Air International 2007-12
D.Willis - North American F-86 Sabre /Aircraft profile/
F-86A-5-NA 49-1225 flown by Maj Richard D Creighton of the 336 FIS during the Korean War with his five kills marked on the gun access panel. This aircraft was one of 333 F-86A-5-NAs which had the improved J47 GE-13 engine later retrofitted to earlier F-86As.
F-86E-10-NA 51-2807 of the 144th FIS Alaska Air National Guard circa late 1950s. The F-86 had a long and successful career in the ANG which started as early as the Korean War when three units flew F-86As and F-86Fs.
F-86F-35-NA 53-1098 was the personal mount of the Group Commander of the 562nd FBS/388 FBW. This variant of the F-86 was a nuclear-capable fighter-bomber able to carry a Mk.12 nuclear weapon on the port inner wing pylon.
F-86H-5-NA 52-5730 of the 430th FBS with 4 x M39 20mm cannon armament. This was one of 70 of the early H-5 models built, the most numerous F-86H was the H-10 with a total of 300 manufactured.
Flown by North American test pilot and air ace George Welch, this is the first of three XP-86 prototypes (45-59597), photographed shortly after its first flight on October 1, 1947.
North American F-86E Sabre (51-2721) of the 25th FS 'Assam Dragons', part of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing 'Checkertails', at Suwon Air Base, Korea, circa 1952. This is the aircraft in which Col Hater Maj Genl Fred J Ascani established a speed record of 635.686 mph over a 100km closed course in August 1951.
This is North American F-86H Sabre (52-5740) of the 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 113th Tactical Fighter Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard at Andrews AFB, Maryland, circa 1957. This variant had a more powerful engine, which bestowed greater speed, improved climb rate and a higher service ceiling.
F-86D-60-NA 53-909 of the 498th FIS 'Geiger Tigers' from Geiger AFB. The D-60 was the last F-86D to be produced and was delivered in three blocks totaling 399 aircraft. The 498th's F-86Ds flew until 1956, when they were replaced by Convair F-102 Delta Daggers.