North American F-86D Sabre

Last updated
F-86D/K/L Sabre
North American F-86D (722).jpg
A USAF North American F-86D
General information
Type All-weather fighter-interceptor
National originUnited States
Manufacturer North American Aviation
Primary users United States Air Force
Number built2,847
History
Introduction date1951 [1]
First flight22 December 1949,
75 years ago [2]
Retired
Developed from North American F-86 Sabre

The North American F-86D/K/L Sabre (initially known as the YF-95 and widely known informally as the "Sabre Dog") [2] [3] is an American transonic jet interceptor. Developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s, it was an interceptor derivative of the North American F-86 Sabre. While the original F-86 Sabre was conceived as a day fighter, the F-86D was specifically developed as an all-weather interceptor. Originally designated as the YF-95 during development and testing, it was re-designated the F-86D before production began, despite only sharing 25% commonality of parts with the original F-86. Production models of the F-86D/K/L differed from other Sabres in that they had a larger fuselage, a larger afterburning engine, and a distinctive nose radome. The most-produced Sabre Dog variants (the "D" and "G" models) also mounted no guns, unlike the Sabre with its six M3 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, instead mounting unguided Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR) “Mighty Mouse” rockets. The "K" and "L" Sabre Dog variants mounted four 20mm M24A1 cannon. [4]

Contents

Design and development

Rocket tray North American F-86D Sabre Dog rocket tray.jpg
Rocket tray

The YF-95 was a development of the F-86 Sabre, the first aircraft designed around the new 2.75-inch (70 mm) "Mighty Mouse" Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR). Begun in March 1949, the unarmed prototype, 50-577, first flew on 22 December 1949, piloted by North American test pilot George Welch and was the first U.S. Air Force night fighter design with only a single crewman and a single engine, a J47-GE-17 with afterburner rated at 5,425 lbf (24.1 kN) static thrust. Gun armament was eliminated in favor of a retractable under-fuselage tray carrying 24 unguided Mk. 4 rockets, then considered a more effective weapon against enemy bombers than automatic cannon fire. A second prototype, 50-578, was also built, but the YF-95 nomenclature was short-lived as the design was subsequently redesignated YF-86D.

The fuselage was wider and the airframe length increased to 40 ft 4 in (12.3 m), with a clamshell canopy, enlarged tail surfaces and AN/APG-36 all-weather radar fitted in a radome in the nose, above the intake. Later models of the F-86D received an uprated J-47-GE-33 engine rated at 5,550 lbf (24.7 kN) (from the F-86D-45 production blocks onward). A total of 2,504 D-models were built. [2]

Operational history

A Wyoming Air National Guard F-86L in the late 1950s. F-86L Wyoming ANG taking off c1959.jpg
A Wyoming Air National Guard F-86L in the late 1950s.

On 18 November 1952, F-86D 51-2945 set a speed record of 698.505 mph (1,124.1 km/h). Captain J. Slade Nash flew over a three km (1.8 mi.) course at the Salton Sea in southern California at a height of only 125 ft (38 m). Another F-86D broke this world record on 16 July 1953, when Lieutenant Colonel William F. Barns, flying F-86D 51-6145 in the same path of the previous flight, achieved 715.697 mph (1,151.8 km/h). [5]

Variants

The fifth F-86D for the USAF in formation with two other early production aircraft North American F-86D-1s USAF in flight.jpg
The fifth F-86D for the USAF in formation with two other early production aircraft
YF-95A
prototype all-weather interceptor; two built; designation changed to YF-86D (North American model NA-164)
YF-86D
originally designated YF-95A.
F-86D
Production interceptor originally designated F-95A, 2,504 built.
F-86G
Provisional designation for F-86D variant with uprated engine and equipment changes, 406 built as F-86Ds.
YF-86K
Basic version of F-86D intended for export with rocket tray replaced by four 20 mm cannon and simplified fire control system, two conversions.
F-86K
NATO version of F-86D; MG-4 fire control system; four 20 mm M24A1 cannon with 132 rounds per gun; APG-37 radar. 120 were built by North American, 221 were assembled by Fiat.
F-86L
Upgrade conversion of F-86D with new electronics, extended wingtips and wing leading edges, revised cockpit layout, and uprated engine; 981 converted.

Operators

Source: Dorr [6]
Danish North American F-86D Sabre North American F-86D Sabre F-421.jpg
Danish North American F-86D Sabre
A West German Air Force F-86K in 1965. German F-86K JG 74 on runway 1965.jpg
A West German Air Force F-86K in 1965.
North American F-86K Royal Netherlands Air Force North American F-86K at militare luchtvaart museum Soesterberg.jpg
North American F-86K Royal Netherlands Air Force
North American F-86K from Royal Norwegian Air Force. RNoAF F-86K Z-KZ 1.JPG
North American F-86K from Royal Norwegian Air Force.
F-86D of the Philippine Air Force. F86D.JPG
F-86D of the Philippine Air Force.
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Received 59 ex-USAF F-86Ds 1958-1960; assigned to 723, 726 and 728 Squadrons.
Flag of France.svg  France
Fiat built 62 F-86Ks for France (1956-1957), assigned to EC 1/13 "Artois", EC 2/13 "Alpes", and EC 3/13 "Auvergne" Squadrons. Serials were 55-4814/4844, 55-4846/4865, 55-4872/4874, 55-4876/4879.
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Acquired 88 U.S. F-86Ks 22 July 1957–23 June 1958. The Ks were assigned to Jagdgeschwader 75/renamed 74.
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Acquired 35 F-86Ds from the US. Were received in 1961 and retired in 1967 but kept as back up until 1969. F-86D was the first all weather fighter in Greek Air Force. F-86Ds were assigned to 337 and 343 Squadrons. Until 1964 they were in natural metal. Until after retirement they were in NATO camo.
Flag of Honduras.svg  Honduras
A former Honduran F-86K in Honduran Aviation Museum in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Honduran F-86K.jpg
A former Honduran F-86K in Honduran Aviation Museum in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Acquired Six Venezuelan F-86Ks in 1970.
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Fiat produced 121 F-86Ks for Italy, 1955-1958. Also, 120 U.S. F-86Ks were acquired. F-86s were assigned to the AMI air groups: 6 Gruppo COT/1 Stormo, 17 Gruppo/1 Stormo, 23 Gruppo/1 Stormo, 21 Gruppo/51 Aerobrigata, 22 Gruppo/51 Aerobrigata and 12 Gruppo/4 Aerobrigata.
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Acquired 122 US F-86Ds, 1958–1961; assigned to four all-weather interceptor Hikōtai , and Air Proving Ground at Gifu.
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Acquired 57 U.S.-built and six Fiat-built F-86K Sabres, 1955–1956; and assigned to three squadrons, No. 700, 701 and 702. Operated until 1964.
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Acquired 60 U.S.-built F-86K Sabres, 1955–1956, and four Italian-assembled Fiat K-models.
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines
Acquired 20 F-86Ds, assigned to 8th Fighter Interceptor Squadron "Vampires" beginning 1960; part of the U.S. military assistance package.
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Acquired 40 F-86Ds, beginning 20 June 1955.
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China (Taiwan)
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Acquired 20 F-86Ls.
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
Acquired 32 US-built F-86Fs, October 1955–December 1960; 1965 acquired 79 Fiat-built F-86Ks from West Germany.
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia
Acquired 130 U.S.-made F-86Ds and operated them between 1961 and 1974. 32 of these were modified into a reconnaissance variant utilizing 3 Kodak K-24 cameras mounted in place of the FFAR rockets, the IF-86D. [7]

Surviving aircraft

A F-86L of the RTAF on display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum F-86L RTAF.jpg
A F-86L of the RTAF on display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum

Specifications (F-86D-40-NA)

North American F-86K Sabre. North American F-86K Sabre line drawings.svg
North American F-86K Sabre.

Data from Combat Aircraft since 1945, [3] The American Fighter [8]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

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References

Notes

  1. North American F-86L “Sabre Dog” - Maps Air Museum
  2. 1 2 3 North American F-86D Sabre - National Museum of the United States Air Force
  3. 1 2 Wilson 2000, p. 111.
  4. "North American F-86A Sabre". National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  5. "William F. Barns Archives". This Day in Aviation. February 21, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  6. Dorr 1993, pp. 65–96.
  7. "IF-86D". Achtung, Skyhawk!. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  8. Angelucci and Bowers 1987, pp. 346–47.
  9. Boyne, W.J. (1998). Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the U.S. Air Force, 1947-1997. Thomas Dunne. St. Martin's Press. p. 380. ISBN   978-0-312-18705-7 . Retrieved May 14, 2019.

Bibliography

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