Aeroplane Monthly 1977-11
-
B.Gunston - North American F-86 Sabre part 2 /Fighters of the fifties/ (16)
The third prototype XFJ-1, 39055, with the third prototype FJ-2, 133756, in the background. This FJ-2 was the first to fly, Bob Hoover making the maiden flight on December 27, 1951.
FJ-2 Fury of VMF-451 US Marine Corps based in Japan, 1954
FJ-4B Fury of VA-126 US Navy based at NAS Miramar, 1958
The third prototype FJ-2, 133756, armed with four 20mm guns instead of six standard 0-50 machine guns, was designated XFJ-2B.
The seaborne derivative of the Sabre was the Fury, a quartet of FJ-3s being shown here.
The prototype FJ-4, 139279, first flew on October 28, 1954. This long range attack fighter entered service with VMF-451 in 1956.
The FJ-4B was the final version of the Fury, and first flew in December 1956. Illustrated here is FJ-4B 139537, armed with six ZUNI rocket launchers.
A very early FJ-3, 135777. The prototype, 131931, was actually the fifth FJ-2 re-engined with the licence-built Wright J65 Sapphire engine. The first production aircraft, 135774, was completed at Columbus in December 1953.
The second prototype FJ-2, 133755, being catapulted from the deck of the USS Coral Sea in late 1953. The first three FJ-2 prototypes were virtually navalised F-86Es.
A photograph taken when the Navy's aerobatic team, The Blue Angels, checked out these Columbus-built FJ-3s.
North American FJ-3 Fury of VC-5 US Navy based at Patuxent River NAS during 1954 for the Fleet Introduction Program
The Sabre Dog or Dogship, as the F-86D was dubbed, was produced in greater numbers than any other Sabre variant, a total of 2,504 being built.
The F-86K was armed with four 20mm cannon and carried powerful radar enabling it to intercept at night and in poor weather.