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| To meet a US Army Air Force requirement for a day fighter that could be used also as an escort fighter or dive-bomber, North American submitted a design known as the NA-140.
Two XP-86 prototypes of the NA-140 design were contracted in late 1944, but when German research data on the characteristics of swept wings became available soon after the end of the war, North American sought USAAF agreement to redesign the XP-86 to incorporate swept wings and tail surfaces. This cost a year's delay, and it was not until 1 October 1947 that the first prototype was flown, then powered by a Chevrolet-built General Electric TG-180 (or J35-C-3) turbojet of 1701kg thrust; on 25 April 1948, by then re-engined with a General Electric J47 turbojet as the YP-86A, this aircraft exceeded a speed of Mach 1 in a shallow dive. The first production version was the P-86A, powered initially by a 2200kg thrust General Electric J47-GE-1 turbojet and flown first on 20 May 1948. A month later USAF redesignation resulted in the P-86A becoming the F-86A and in 1949, by which time it had gained the name Sabre, the new fighter began to enter service with the USAF's 1st, 4th and 81st Fighter Groups, the 94th Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group receiving the first in February 1949. F-86A production totalled 554, the majority having 2359kg thrust J47-GE-3, -7, -9, or -13 turbo-jets. Subsequent production, arranged chronologically, included the F-86E with an all-moving tailplane, and the F-86F (1,539) with a modified wing. Most extensively built was the ensuing F-86D (2,054), a redesigned all-weather/night fighter, followed by the F-86H fighter-bomber (477) with powerful J73 engine, and the F-86K (120) which was a simplified version of the F-86D. Under the designation TF-86 two dual-control trainers were produced as conversions of F-86Fs, and the designation F-86L was applied to rebuilds (827) from F-86Ds, which introduced an increased span wing and updated avionics. The F-86B (deeper fuselage and larger tyres) and F-86C (redesigned fuselage) did not enter production. In addition to aircraft built by North American, Canadair Ltd in Montreal built 60 F-86Es for the USAF, followed by 290 generally similar Sabre Mk 2 fighters, comprising 230 for the RCAF and 60 for the. Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Canadian production continued with one Sabre Mk 3 to flight test the indigenous Orenda engine, 438 Sabre Mk 4 for the RAF with General Electric engines, 370 Sabre Mk 5 aircraft with the 2883kg thrust Orenda 10 turbojet, and 655 Sabre Mk 6 aircraft with the 3300kg thrust Orenda 14. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Australia also became involved in Sabre production, modifying the airframe for
two 30mm Adens and the 3402kg thrust Rolls-Royce Avon 26 engine, and built for the RAAF 21 Sabre Mk 30 and 20 Sabre Mk 31 aircraft,
plus 69 Sabre Mk32 fighters with Australian-built engines. Fiat in Italy assembled 221 F-86Ks from North American-built kits of components, and production in Japan began in the same way, with Mitsubishi leading a group of Japanese companies which first assembled, then increasingly constructed, a total of 300 similar to the F-86F and RF-86F.
 | A three-view drawing (502 x 839) |
| MODEL | F-86D |
| CREW | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 x General Electric J47-GE-17B, 33.34kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 7756 kg | 17099 lb |
| Empty weight | 5656 kg | 12469 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 11.30 m | 37 ft 1 in |
| Length | 12.29 m | 40 ft 4 in |
| Height | 4.57 m | 15 ft 0 in |
| Wing area | 27.76 m2 | 298.81 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 1138 km/h | 707 mph |
| Ceiling | 16640 m | 54600 ft |
| Range | 1344 km | 835 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 24 x 69.9mm missiles |
| Robert Swisher, e-mail, 08.03.2011 04:47 I worked as an aircraft electrician grade A for 13 months on the F-F86F in 52 /53 when I was 20.My 1st experience with airplanes.I thought it was great.I figured out one day that with a wire jumper between 2 pins the birds could have automatic fire control.I later retired from NAA /Rockell.Great time. reply | | Capt. Chuck KEndrick, e-mail, 02.03.2011 03:18 I flew the F-86L at Perrin AFB, Texas in 1960, On a night intercept mission , the aircraft lost all oil pressure and the engine sized. I made a night "dead stick" (flameout} landing. I got my butt "chewed out" for not ejecting, then a WELL DONE for saving the a /c. This was a great time to be in the Air Force and I sure enjoyed flying the F-86, reply | | Alvin Blackwell, e-mail, 21.11.2010 06:35 With no wing tanks, it was as versatile as any of the F86 series. The design of the airplane was spectacular, in that it had these swept back wings, that enhanced its maneuverable capabilities. 1955, I was a member of The Greater Pittsburh Airforce Air Defense Command, I was a Crew Chief for a 24 hour alert crew; our responsibility was to have this aircraft airborne in as short a time as possible. The hangers I worked at where the airplane was housed enabled the front and the rear doors to be opened at the same time, the engines could be started while the aircraft was still in the hanger and the airplane could be taxied and could be airborne in less than two minutes, because of the after-burner capabilities. I was very satisfied with the aircraft. I felt it could do the job that it was designed to do. I was on this alert crew 12 hours on, 24 hours off one day off a week. It was my favorite time of the fours that I served in the Air Force. reply | | Pete Berard, e-mail, 09.11.2010 15:47 Crewed and crew chief on the Ds and Ls Moody AFB Valdosta Georgia. 1957- 1960. Had enlisted for recips but got the 86. Not a bad second choice. We lost only one bird in 3 and half years. Was a Saturday afternoon test hop flown by Capt Plunk, our maint officer. On take off a huge orange fire ball erupted from the tail. He made a very low ejection and walked home with his chute. I watched it all happen from the top of a plane while installing the aft section. The A /C is still in the woods south of MAFB. I'd have to guess the AB drain lines were loose or left off entirely.
I can see how our pilots could enjoy these birds, especially in that time period when jets were still young.
We were Air Training Command and the guys who flew our planes were green and still took pretty good care of our birds.
Vacuum tube electronics were the most problem plagued subjects followed closely by Trash Can Liners, the ceramic tail pipe liners. Likely the engine management system was at fault in most cases. Was supposed to allow the pilot to pull the throttle around the horn and go to military power for scramble. That was a joke. Had to nurse the damn thing to idle for fear of over temp. Had to break the plane in half to get at the tail pipe and replace it.
Other than these things, a good bird. reply | |
| | "MAC" McClellan, e-mail, 08.11.2010 23:14 A /2c , 1956 /1957 , 416 FBS , C Flight , Crew Chief A /C #25205 . Loved France , Hated North Africa . reply | | Kirk Harrison, e-mail, 23.09.2010 22:13 My Uncle Leroy Harrison won the William Tell Trophy three years in a row with a perfect score in this aircraft. He said she handled like a dream and was one of his favorite aircraft. The other was a P-38. reply | | Tom Keegan, e-mail, 18.09.2010 07:27 I was stationed at George AFB, Victorville, CA
1952 -53 worked in radar shop. Like to email with any one
in that group. The Wing Com. was Col. Roland later Gen. reply | | T/Sgt Sam McIntyre, e-mail, 13.09.2010 18:21 I was in Korea Jun 1956 - Jun 1957. Assigned to the 310thFBS at Osan (K55)eqipped with the F-86F. I was a dock chief then the Hanger chief doing the maintenance checks. I never really got to like the 86 but the pilots loved to fly it. They never had to work on it in below 10 degree temps. reply | | jim kirk, e-mail, 27.08.2010 21:53 I was a crew chief on a /c #233 at chambley ab 3 years my pilot was "dutch" manuel easy bird to maintain reply | | LarryM, e-mail, 23.04.2010 15:25 I flew the Canadian built version of the Sabre(Canadair Mark 6). It might have been the best of the bunch. 7275 lbs of thrust let us fly clean aircraft(no tanks)straight up to 48,000 ft in battle formation and then cruise climb to 52,000 ft. Not bad for the late 1950s. reply | | John Mouton, e-mail, 29.08.2010 16:39 My brother 2nd Lt. Raoul P. Mouton Jr. flew with the 36 in Korea. It was interesting to read the comments from other pilots about the Saber. reply | | EDGAR 'Ed' Moore, e-mail, 03.09.2010 00:26 I flew F-86Fs at Nellis,late May to mid July 1955;99th Cobra Sqdn.I flew 86Es for the next year in the National Guard.Then I got F89Cs and RF84Fs.Nothing like the F86;with 6 nose 50 calibers. reply | | B. BAILEY, e-mail, 10.03.2010 08:14 I flew the RAAF Avon Sabre 1969 /1971. A dream machine after the Vampire. 600 kts IAS down low and reached M1.17 in shallow dive but controllabity affected after M0.94. Great for gunnery wth 2 x 30 mm cannon and radar computing gunsight. I reached 53,000 ft in level flight however 6G limit was too low for low level dogfighting and it spun too easily at high altitude. Flew Mirage 111O next and missed the panoramic view of the Sabres bubble canopy and the comfort of the roomy cockpit. reply | | DON MAYO, e-mail, 05.02.2010 23:08 I WAS ASSIGNED TO TSUIKI AB,JAPAN FROM 55-57. ATTACHED TO THE JAPAN AIR SELF DEFENSE FORCE. THEY WERE FLYIN THE F-86F AND T-33A. WE WERE TEACHING THEM TO FLY AND MAINTAIN THE CRAFT DURING THIER FIRST YEAR HAVING AN AIR FORCE SINCE WW11. SWEET ASSIGNMENT AND A GREAT AIRCRAFT. reply | |
| | Leo Hernandez, e-mail, 29.01.2010 21:43 It's great to hear all you guy's that flew the F-86 Saber I was just a kid growing up In Clovis Cal.when school was out in the after noon my buddy & I would take our bikes & stand outside the fence & see you run up the engines on those babies since then the F-86 has been my faverte jet,you guy's that were in Clovis during those year's bring back at of memories.Thanks reply | | Hap, e-mail, 22.01.2010 21:13 Great airplane. The ones that I worked on didn't have guns. In place of the guns, it had bubbles where cameras were located. The fuselage was painted on the nose of the aircraft to indicate that it had guns. The squadron that I was in was the 15th Tactical Reconaissance Squadron stationed in the Far East. reply | | LLOYD, e-mail, 02.01.2010 19:03 I was a crewchief on A /C-098 in the 428th FBS at Clovis,AFB(Cannon) in 1957.I crewed A /C-318 on TDY to France in 57.A very honest A /C.What you saw is what you got.These were F-86H.No A /b,4 20mm cannons in the front fuselage.A great A /C to work on. reply | | Jim Gates, e-mail, 01.01.2010 00:55 I flew the F-86F in gunnery school at Williams AFB in 1956. Then moved into the F-100C at Foster AFB. The F-86F was a dream to fly. It seem to have a built-in landing. I had the feeling I was wearing it. Best military a /c I ever flew. reply | | Joe Ramo, e-mail, 29.12.2009 03:14 I was a crew chief On a /c # 185 for almost 3 years in the 416 f /b / sq. both at george a /b and chambley in france. the best time of my life. reply | | John Rumph, e-mail, 27.12.2009 06:30 The best of the best. I flew the F-86E /F at Nellis and with the 416th Fighter-bomber Sqdn. at Chambley A.B. France 1955-1957. A Fighter pilots airplane. Hope a lot of you Desert Rats are still around. reply |
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