F-86H Sabre Jet History

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.

F-86H Sabre Jet Specifications

Dimensions & Weights
Span

39 ft. 1 in.

Length

38 ft. 10 in.

Height

14 ft. 11 in.

Weight

18,683 lbs. loaded

Accommodation

One: Pilot

Performance
Maximum speed:

693 mph

Cruising speed:

550 mph.

Range:

1,050 miles

Combat Ceiling:

51,400 ft

Powerplant

One General Electric J73-GE-3E turbojet of 9,070 lbs thrust

Armament

Fixed: Four M-39 20mm cannon (Blocks 5 and 10, last 360 aircraft built) or six .50-cal. machine guns (Block 1, 113 aircraft built)

Disposable: Eight 5 in. rockets, 2,000 lbs. of bombs, or nuclear weapon.

Crew Chief

Greg Thomas

Country of origin

USA

Manufacturer

North American

b/n or serial number

53-1378A

type

Single Seat All-Weather Fighter/Bomber

ownership

This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.

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There’s always something great going on at the Pacific Coast Air Museum. We have Open Cockpit weekends once a month,  special events throughout the year, and regular hot dog lunches. We host school field trips, special group tours, birthday parties, and family get-togethers, all among our collection of historic aircraft and educational exhibits.

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