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PHOTOVAULT AVIATION Museum
Military Aircraft: North American F-86 Sabre, Images by Wernher Krutein, Larry Nattrass, Richard Neville, Les Clark and PHOTOVAULT®

PHOTOVAULT contains a comprehensive archive of military images. These files include Military throughout the world, (though predominantly USA Military) and all branches of service. These photographs are available for licensing in any media. For Pricing, General Guidelines, and Delivery information click here. You may contact us thru email or by phone for more information on the use of these images, and any others in our files not shown here. Please do not ask us for free use of these images! Our Air Force pages can be linked to as follows: Air Forces Volume 1, Air Forces Volume 2, Air Forces Volume 3, Air Forces Volume 4, Air Forces Volume 5, Air Forces Volume 6, Air Forces Volume 7, Air Forces Volume 8, Air Forces Volume 9, Air Forces Volume 10, Air Forces Volume 11, Air Forces Volume 12, Air Forces Volume 13, Air Forces Volume 14, Air Forces Volume 15, Air Forces Volume 16

The North American Aviation F-86 Sabre was the first production American fighter to feature swept wings. First flown on October 1, 1947 the F-86 was rushed into combat in Korea after the introduction of the Russian built Migs. The Sabre eventually achieved a 14 to 1 kill ratio over the Mig. A comparison picture of the two rival aircraft can be seen here. The F-86F was an improved version that featured a new wing leading edge, and an all-flying rail. It was powered by a General Electric J47-GE-27 engine, and was armed with six .50 caliber machine guns. 2,640 F-86Fs were built.

See Also: Navy, Naval Aviation, Army, Marines, USMC, Coast Guard, AEROSPACE, Eagles, TRANSPORTATION, MILITARY, ROCKETS

Click on any of the thumbnail images below to view an enlarged photo . . . . .
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SPECIFICATIONS:

Span: 37' 1" in
Length: 37' 6"
Height: 14' 8"
Maximum Speed: 690 MPH at sea level
Service Ceiling: 50.000 Feet
Range: 1,270 Miles

A Pilots Memoirs on flying the F-86

I am writing to you after viewing your web site. I had no idea anyone still cared for that old bird. I flew the F-86 for years. I was in the Korean war, as well as flying commercially for years. I really miss the Sabre. What a fine old gal she was. Thank you for keeping her alive for a new generation.

I was assigned to the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in the early fifties. Our main task was to achieve and maintain Tactical Air Superiority over the Korean Peninsula. We patrolled what was then known as "MiG Alley". Our main resistance was from the Russian built MiG-15. We also encountered a wide variety of other aircraft. Mainly propeller driven craft. Historically, it was US and NATO allied forces against North Korean and Chinese forces. Let me tell you, contrary to official doctrine, we flew combat missions against Russian pilots. There was no mistaking that Caucasian face behind the oxygen mask.

As is common to give Russian military planes a nickname, we called the MiG-15 "Fagot". It was a worthy opponent. The MiG-15 was an aerodynamically superior aircraft to the Sabre. It could out turn us, had a slightly higher top speed, and was able to hold more "g's" on the wing.

The one big advantage we had was our training. We were simply superior pilots to the North Korean and Russian fellows we flew against. We also had superior firepower. Four guns per ship. And a higher rate of fire. We mostly flew in wings. Usually 4 to 6 jets. I remember the Sabre had a an ineffective heater. It was not uncommon to feel like you were freezing to death, at least until were you spotted by the enemy. Then it got quite warm in the cockpit.

The Sabre was able to turn about 650 mph. I flew a new model to 660 mph once. We would sometimes push them past specs. This was stupid and foolish. We were young and invincible. Looking back, I wonder that none of us were killed by having a jet come apart underneath us. Flight was smooth. There was a great 360 degree view from the bubble canopy. I particularly liked the later model F-86E. She was agile, very responsive to the stick. This was all before fly-by-wire. Later on I flew some of the fly-by-wire test aircraft at WPAFB (Ohio) in the 60's. The F-86 was as close as it got to feeling like fly-by-wire. She was a tight bird. Always quick on the stick. Not forgiving. If you made a mistake, she went right with you. Buying the farm was easy for a new pilot. Especially at 600 miles an hour.

We lived in steel quonset huts. Pretty nice. Air conditioners. Plenty of food. And always something going on. One day a pilot got a telegram, he had become a new daddy. A baby girl. We painted his jet pink. The next AM early we had a scramble to intercept MiG's. He screamed when he saw his plane. The joke was kind of ruined. I have always wanted to ask the NK pilots what they thought when they saw a big pink Sabre coming at them.

I miss the ole bird and I hope this gives you a flavor of what the F-86 was like.

Regards,

Col. R. Grey USAF (ret)

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Air Force
Our Air Force pages can be linked to as follows: Air Forces Volume 01 and 02, Air Forces Volume 03 and 04, Air Forces Volume 05 and 06, Air Forces Volume 07 and 08, Air Forces Volume 09, Air Forces Volume 10, Air Forces Volume 11, Air Forces Volume 12, Air Forces Volume 13, Air Forces Volume 14

Included in the PHOTOVAULT AVIATION Museum are Air Force images of: Beech: C-45 Expeditor, T-34 Mentor, Bell: P-39 Aircobra, P-59 Aircomet, UH-1 Huey, Boeing: B-17 Flyingfortress, B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress, C-97 Stratofreighter, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-17 Globemaster, E-3 AWACS, KC-97 Stratotanker, P-26 Peashooter, Cessna: T-37 Tweet, LC-126, O-2, Consolidated Vultee: B-24 Liberator, Convair: B-36 Peacemaker, B-58 Hustler, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-106 Delta Dart, F-111 Aardvark, Curtis: C-46 Commando, P-40 Warhawk, Douglas: A-4 Skyhawk, A-1 AD-6 Skyraider, A-26 Invader, B-18 Bolo, B-23 Dragon, B-66 Destroyer, C-47 Dakota, C-54 Skymaster, C-124 Globemaster, Fairchild: C-82 Packet, C-123 Provider, C-119 Flying Boxcar, Grumman: A-6 Intruder, HU-16 Albatross, Kaman: H-43 Huskie, Lockheed: C-5 Galaxy, C-60 Lodestar, C-130 Hercules, C-141 StarLifter, EC-121 Warning Star (C-121), C-140 Jet Star, F-16 Falcon, F-22 Raptor, F-80 Shooting Star, F-104 Star Fighter, F-117A Stealth Fighter, SR-71 Blackbird, U-2, P-38 Lightning, T-33 Shooting Star, Martin: B-26 Marauder, B-57 Canberra, McDonnell: F-101 "Voodoo", XF-85 Goblin, McDonnell Douglas: C-9 Nightingale, F-4 Phantom, F-15 Eagle, F-18 Hornet, KC-10 Extender, North American: B-25 Mitchell, B-45 Tornado, F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Saber, P-51 Mustang, T-6 Texan, T-28 Trojan, T-39 Saberliner, XB-70 Valkyrie, Northrop: B-2 Stealth Bomber, B-49 Flying JetWing, F-5 Tiger, P-61 Black Widow, YC-125 Raider, Piasecki (Vertol): H-21 Shawnee/Workhorse, Republic A-10 Thunderbolt, F-84 Thunderstreak, F-105 Thunderchief, P-47 Thunderbolt, Rockwell: B-1 Lancer, U-4 Aerocommander, Sikorsky: H-19/S-55, Vought: A-7 Corsair, F-8 Crusader ...........Thunderbirds, Italian Frecce Tricolori Aerobatic Team, Canadian Snowbirds

Brazil: Embraer: EMB-312 Tucano, Esquadrao de Demonstracao Aerea (Brazilian Air Display Squadron)

Canada: De Havilland: U-6A Beaver, Snowbirds

Germany: Junkers: JU-52, JU-88 Messerschmidt: Me-109, Me-163 Komet, Me-262 Swallow Focke-Wulf: FW-190

Japan: Mitsubishi: A6M Zero-Sen

Russia and CIS: Antonov: An-74, An-124 Condor, Mikoyan-Gurevich: MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, MiG-29 Sukhoi: Su-27 Flanker

United Kingdom: Avro: 638 Lancaster, MK-2-B2 Vulcan, MRMk2P Nimrod, Folland: FO-141 Gnat, De Havilland: DH-90 Dragonfly, Hunting: T-5 Jet Provost

Weapons: GBU-27A Paveway 3 Laser Guided Bomb, Rockwell International GBU-8 Electro-Optical Guided Bomb, Hughes AMRAAM AIM-120A, GBU-15 Modular Guided Weapon System, Texas Instruments Bolt-117 Laser Guided Bomb

Naval Aviation
Our Naval Aviation pages can be linked to as follows:
Naval Aviation Volume 1 and 02, Naval Aviation Volume 3 and 04, Naval Aviation Volume 5 and 06, Naval Aviation Volume 7 and 08, Naval Aviation Volume 9 and 10, Naval Aviation Volume 11, Naval Aviation Volume 12, Naval Aviation Volume 13
Naval Missiles

Included in the PHOTOVAULT AVIATION Museum are Naval Aircraft images of: USA- Beech: C-45 Expeditor, T-34 Mentor, Boeing: CH-46 Sea Knight, E-6A Mercury Tacamo, Cessna: T-50 Crane, Consolidated: PBY-5 Catalina, PB2Y Coronado, Consolidated Vultee: PB4Y-2 Privateer, Douglas: A-1 Skyraider, A-3D Skywarrior, C-54 Skymaster, F3D (F-10B) Skyknight, F4D Skyray (F-6), SBD/A-24 Dauntless, C-47 Dakota, Grumman: A-6 Intruder, A-6 Prowler, C-2 Greyhound, F9F (F-9) Cougar, F-11 Tiger, F-14 Tomcat, F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, E-2 Hawkeye, J2F Duck, S-2 Tracker, TBF/TBM Avenger, U-16 Albatross, Kaman: SH-2 Seasprite, Lockheed: C-130 Hercules, P-2V Neptune ASW Sub Chaser, P-3V Orion ASW Sub Chaser, S-3 Viking, Martin: P-5 Marlin, PBM Mariner, McDonnell: FH-1 Phantom, McDonnell Douglas: A-4 Skyhawk, F-4 Phantom, F-18 Hornet, North American: AJ-1 (A-2A) 'Savage', A-5 Vigilante, F-86 Sabre, T-28 Trojan, T-2 Buckeye, Piasecki: H-21 Shawnee, Piper: U-11 Aztec, Rockwell: OV-10 Bronco, T-2 Buckeye, Sikorsky: SH-3 Sea King, SH-60 Seahawk, Vought: F4U Corsair, A-7 Corsair, F7U Cutlass, F-8 Crusader................Blue Angels

United Kingodom: Avro: Shackleton, De Havilland: DH110 Sea Vixen, DH112 Sea Venom, Fairey: Gannet, Hawker: Sea Fury, Hawker Siddeley: Harrier, Saunders-Roe: Skeeter, Westland: Wessex, Whirlwind
Navy
Our Navy pages can be linked to as follows:
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Navy Volume 5 and 06, Navy Volume 7 and 08`````
Navy Volume 9 and 10, Navy Volume 11 and 12

See Also: Navy: Aircraft Carriers, Navy: Submarines, Navy: Hovercraft, U-Boats, USS Constitution
United States Marines
Our Marines images can be linked to as follows:
Marines Volume 1, Marines Volume 2, Marines Volume 3, Marines Volume 4

Links to United States Marines Aircraft: A-6 Prowler, McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace AV-8B Harrier, A-4 Skyhawk, CH-46 Sea Knight, F4U Corsair, F7F Tigercat, S-65, T-28 Trojan
Army
Our Army pages can be linked to as follows:
Army Volume 1, Army Volume 2, Army Volume 03

Also in the PHOTOVAULT AVIATION Museum are links to Army Aviation pictures: AH-64 Apache, Bell AH-1, Bell UH-1 Huey, C-23 Sherpa, CH-47 Chinook, Sikorsky CH-53 Stallion and Super Stallion, CH-54 Tarhe, O-1 Bird Dog, OH-6 Cayuse, OV-1 Mohawk, SA-330 Puma, SH-60 Blackhawk
Links to Coast Guard Aircraft: C-130 Hercules, CC-115 Buffalo, HH-3 Pelican, HH-52 Sea Guardian, HH-65 Dolphin, HU-16 Albatross, HU-25 Guardian

Included in the Vault are images of: Canadian Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Fleet Identification

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