Earning prominence during the Korean War, the Sabre was widely considered one of the best fighters of the war.
First manufactured in 1947, the XF-86 was the first US Air Force swept-wing, jet fighter aircraft. The F-86F model was equipped with a more powerful engine and larger wings than previous models, allowing the aircraft to approach the speed of sound. The F-86F achieved its greatest fame during the Korean War when it accomplished an almost 10 to 1 superiority in kills to the similarly-built, Soviet MiG-15.
Serial Number: 52-4978
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Crew: One
Engines: One General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojet; 5,910 pounds thrust
Wingspan: 39 feet 1 1/2 inches
Length: 37 feet 6 1/2 inches
Height: 14 feet 9 inches
Weight: 11,125 pounds (empty); 15,198 pounds (loaded)
Speed: 678 mph (maximum)
Range: 926 miles
Service Ceiling: 48,000 feet
Armament: Six .50-caliber machine guns; 2,000 pounds of assorted ordnance
Cost: $769,000
Hill Air Force Base first started maintenance on F-86 aircraft and their J47 engines in 1953. The following year, Hill Air Force Base was assigned the maintenance of all the J47 engines stationed within the base’s geographic area of responsibility. The F-86F on display was manufactured in 1953 and was stationed all over the United States before it was acquired by Hill Aerospace Museum in 2004. It is painted to resemble the F-86 “Jolley Roger” flown by Captain Clifford Dale Jolley of the Utah Air National Guard, who is credited with seven aerial victories during the Korean War.
Earning prominence during the Korean War, the Sabre was widely considered one of the best fighters of the war.
Be the end of the Korean War, the F-86 shot down a total of 762 MiGs.
The Sabre is the most-produced Western jet fighter, with 9,860 units being produced.
The Saber would be replaced by the F-100 Super Sabre in the mid 1950’s.