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The World's only airworthy F-86A Sabre
48-178
(G-SABR)
The Sabre was conceived in a time of war. It was in
these troubled times that the constant pursuit for greater
performance and capability led to a period of rapid advancement in
weapons, and in aviation especially. Post-war innovations in
engineering, materials, aerodynamics and propulsion would came at
such an unprecedented pace that many new aircraft designs were often
obsolete whilst still on the drawing board. The F-86 was an
exception to this. In the light of new discoveries, pain-staking
research and true invention, what had started out as an unremarkable
straight-wing jet-powered fighter took on a completely new and
revolutionary shape with the performance to match. The Sabre was the
torchbearer of the swept-wing concept and it was endowed with a
purity of design never to be repeated. It gave to the world the
first truly transonic swept-wing fighter and with it the iconic
shape of the ‘Jet Age’.
The Sabre remains the most produced Western jet
fighter with nearly 10,000 of the series being built and was the
first jet-powered fighter operated by many countries. It remained in
active front-line service (with Bolivia) until 1993. The aircraft
was produced in 20 different variants (including the Navy FJ series
known as the Fury), with 5 different engines. Only the MiG-15 is
believed to have been more widely produced with over 12,000 of these
Russian fighters being built. Licensed foreign production of the MiG
perhaps raised the total produced to over 18,000. During its long
service life, the F-86 served with the air forces of 34 different
countries, including the USA. Two production lines were established
in the US and four foreign countries built the aircraft under
licence.
The Sabre was a development of a straight wing
project which was dramatically modified to incorporate swept flying
surfaces based on research findings that came out of Germany at the
end of World War II.
As well as the jet engine and the swept wings and tail other
innovations included a highly ergonomic cockpit with outstanding
visibility and powered controls. The first Sabre production run was
the' A' model, one of which scored the first swept wing victory over
a MiG-15 in Korea. It can be distinguished from later F-86 variants
by the slimmer tail section and V windshield.
The' A: model has
power assisted primary controls rather than the fully powered
controls of the later versions.
Most of the 10,000 F-86s built were engined with
J-47 axial flow General Electric's famous engine of which over
37,000 units were made across the full range of versions. (Every
B-47 had 6 of them).
This particular F-86A (USAF 48-178) is a dash 5
upgraded to dash 7 and flies in markings with the distinctive
recognition bands used by the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing early in the Korean War. It was
rescued from a reclamation centre and restored in the early 1970s by
former Mustang pilot Ben Hall of Seattle. Ben put 10,000 hours work
into it and describes it as one of the great loves of his life. He
maintained and flew it for 13 years. It was acquired by Golden Apple
in 1990 and further work was carried out on it by Fort Wayne Air
Service of Indiana. In 1991 it was nominated for the Rolls-Royce/Warbirds
Worldwide award for best jet restoration and voted the winner.
Cockpit Pictures
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Technical Data
Engine: General Electric J-47
Span: 37ft 1in
Length: 37ft 6in
Height: 14ft 9in
Empty Weight: 10,854lbs
Max Take-off Weight: 15,800lbs
Max Speed: 679mph at sea level
Cruising Speed: 533mph
Time to 40,000ft: 10.4 mins
Service Ceiling: 48,000ft
Range: 660miles
Operational Requirements
Fuel Type: Jet A-I AVTUR
Capacities: Internal 363 Imp gallons - external
two 100 gallon drop tanks.
Filling Sequence: As indicated on filler covers.
Engine Oil: Aero Shell Turbine Oil 2.
Hydraulic Fluid: OM15 or U.S. Spec Mil-H-5606 -
2 x hydraulic accumulators to be charged with
nitrogen to 1200psi.
Electrical: 28 V DC required to output 1600 Amps
surge, 600 Amps continuous.
Fire Cover: Advisable for engine start and shut
down.
Flying Control Lock: Internal.
Ejection Seat: When parked one safety pin in
each arm rest and one pin in each of the two
initiators (behind seat back).
Runway: Normal minimum 6000ft lSA conditions.
Winter Maintenance (04) Activity
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Landing Gear after Overhaul -
Winter (05)
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