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North
American Aviation responded to a request from the US
Army Air Force to design a day fighter using jet power
that could be used also as an escort fighter or dive
bomber. A design was submitted known as the
NA-140. Two XP-86 prototypes were contracted for
in late 1944 but due to the rapid rate of aircraft
technology change and the research data captured from
the Germans concerning swept wing design, the entire
concept was updated. Incorporating
all the new changes delayed the program by a year and
the first prototypes didn't fly until Oct of 1947.
Originally designated the P-86A but quickly changed to
F-86A, the fighter began to enter service in 1949.
Over the following years, the F-86 series of aircraft
advanced rapidly under continuing upgrades and model
changes. The
result of wing, fuselage and engine updates created the
F-86H which served as a fighter/bomber. Visibly
larger than its ancestors, the H model was faster and
could carry larger loads. It served as the primary
fighter/bomber until the introduction of newer models of
aircraft such as the F-100 Super Saber which came into
service in late 1954.
The
history of our aircraft if being researched and when we
have something the site will be updated.


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