North American F-86D Sabre

{{short description|USAF all-weather interceptor}}  {{More citations needed|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = F-86D/K/L Sabre | image = File:North American F-86D (722).jpg | caption = A USAF North American F-86D | type = All-weather fighter-interceptor | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = North American Aviation | designer = | first_flight = 22 December 1949,<br>{{Years or months ago|1949}}<ref name=":USAF">[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198076/north-american-f-86d-sabre/ North American F-86D Sabre - National Museum of the United States Air Force]</ref> | introduction = 1951<ref>[https://mapsairmuseum.org/north-american-f-86d-l-sabre-dog/ North American F-86L “Sabre Dog” - Maps Air Museum]</ref> | retired = {{Plainlist| *1965 (U.S. Air National Guard) *1974 (SFR Yugoslav Air Force)}} | status = | primary_user = United States Air Force | more_users = Italian Air Force <br> SFR Yugoslav Air Force <br> Japanese Air Self-Defense Force  | produced = | number_built = 2,847 | developed_from = North American F-86 Sabre | variants = }}

The '''North American F-86D/K/L Sabre''' (initially known as the '''YF-95''' and widely known informally as the "'''Sabre Dog'''")<ref name=":USAF" /><ref name="Wilson" /> is an American transonic jet interceptor. While the original North American F-86 Sabre was conceived as a day fighter, the F-86D was specifically developed as an all-weather interceptor for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s. Originally designated as the YF-95 during development and testing, it was re-designated the F-86D before production began, despite only sharing 25% commonality of parts with the original F-86. Production models of the F-86D/K/L differed from other Sabres in that they had a larger fuselage, a larger afterburning engine, and a distinctive nose radome. The most-produced Sabre Dog variants (the "D" and "G" models) also mounted no guns, unlike the Sabre with its six M3 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, instead mounting unguided Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR) “Mighty Mouse” rockets. The "K" and "L" Sabre Dog variants mounted four 20mm M24A1 cannon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North American F-86A Sabre |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/north-american-f-86a-sabre/nasm_A19620066000 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=National Air and Space Museum |language=en}}</ref>

==Design and development== thumb|Rocket tray

The YF-95 was a development of the F-86 Sabre, the first aircraft designed around the new {{convert|2.75|in|adj=on}} "Mighty Mouse" Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR). Begun in March 1949, the unarmed prototype, ''50-577'', first flew on 22 December 1949, piloted by North American test pilot George Welch and was the first U.S. Air Force night fighter design with only a single crewman and a single engine, a J47-GE-17 with afterburner rated at {{convert|5425|lbf|kN|1|abbr=on}} static thrust. Gun armament was eliminated in favor of a retractable under-fuselage tray carrying 24 unguided Mk. 4 rockets, then considered a more effective weapon against enemy bombers than automatic cannon fire. A second prototype, ''50-578'', was also built, but the YF-95 nomenclature was short-lived as the design was subsequently redesignated YF-86D.

The fuselage was wider and the airframe length increased to {{cvt|40|ft|4|in|1}}, with a clamshell canopy, enlarged tail surfaces and AN/APG-36 all-weather radar fitted in a radome in the nose, above the intake. Later models of the F-86D received an uprated J-47-GE-33 engine rated at {{convert|5550|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} (from the F-86D-45 production blocks onward). A total of 2,504 D-models were built.<ref name=":USAF" />

==Operational history== {{expand section|date=July 2020}} [[File:F-86L Wyoming ANG taking off c1959.jpg|thumb|right|A Wyoming Air National Guard F-86L in the late 1950s.]]

On 18 November 1952, F-86D ''51-2945'' set a speed record of {{convert|698.505|mph|1|abbr= on}}. Captain J. Slade Nash flew over a three km (1.8 mi.) course at the Salton Sea in southern California at a height of only {{convert |125|ft|abbr= on}}. Another F-86D broke this world record on 16 July 1953, when Lieutenant Colonel William F. Barns, flying F-86D ''51-6145'' in the same path of the previous flight, achieved {{convert |715.697|mph|1|abbr= on}}.<ref>{{cite web | title=William F. Barns Archives | website=This Day in Aviation | date=February 21, 2019 | url=https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/william-f-barns/ | access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref>

==Variants== thumb|right|The fifth F-86D for the USAF in formation with two other early production aircraft

;YF-95A: prototype all-weather interceptor; two built; designation changed to YF-86D (North American model NA-164) ;YF-86D : originally designated '''YF-95A'''. ;F-86D : Production interceptor originally designated F-95A, 2,504 built. ;F-86G : Provisional designation for F-86D variant with uprated engine and equipment changes, 406 built as F-86Ds. ;YF-86K : Basic version of F-86D intended for export with rocket tray replaced by four 20 mm cannon and simplified fire control system, two conversions. ;F-86K : NATO version of F-86D; MG-4 fire control system; four 20 mm M24A1 cannon with 132 rounds per gun; APG-37 radar. 120 were built by North American, 221 were assembled by Fiat. ;F-86L : Upgrade conversion of F-86D with new electronics, extended wingtips and wing leading edges, revised cockpit layout, and uprated engine; 981 converted. ;B.Kh.17A: ({{langx|th|บ.ข.๑๗ก}}) Royal Thai Air Force designation for the F-86L.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

==Operators== : ''Source: Dorr''<ref name="Dorr">Dorr 1993, pp. 65–96.</ref>

;{{DNK}} * Royal Danish Air Force : Received 59 ex-USAF F-86Ds 1958-1960; assigned to 723, 726 and 728 Squadrons. ;{{FRA}} * French Air Force : Fiat built 62 F-86Ks for France (1956-1957), assigned to EC 1/13 "Artois", EC 2/13 "Alpes", and EC 3/13 "Auvergne" Squadrons. Serials were ''55-4814/4844'', ''55-4846/4865'', ''55-4872/4874'', ''55-4876/4879''. ;{{FRG}} * German Air Force : Acquired 88 U.S. F-86Ks 22 July 1957–23 June 1958. The Ks were assigned to Jagdgeschwader 75/renamed 74. ;{{GRC}} * Greek Air Force : Acquired 35 F-86Ds from the US. Were received in 1961 and retired in 1967 but kept as back up until 1969. F-86D was the first all weather fighter in Greek Air Force. F-86Ds were assigned to 337 and 343 Squadrons. Until 1964 they were in natural metal. Until after retirement they were in NATO camo. ;{{HON}} * Honduran Air Force : thumb|A former Honduran F-86K in Honduran Aviation Museum in Tegucigalpa, HondurasAcquired Six Venezuelan F-86Ks in 1970. ;{{ITA}} * Italian Air Force : Fiat produced 121 F-86Ks for Italy, 1955-1958. Also, 120 U.S. F-86Ks were acquired. F-86s were assigned to the AMI air groups: 6 ''Gruppo'' COT/1 ''Stormo'', 17 ''Gruppo''/1 ''Stormo'', 23 ''Gruppo''/1 ''Stormo'', 21 ''Gruppo''/51 ''Aerobrigata'', 22 ''Gruppo''/51 ''Aerobrigata'' and 12 ''Gruppo''/4 ''Aerobrigata''. ;{{JPN}} * Japanese Air Self-Defense Force : Acquired 122 US F-86Ds, 1958–1961; assigned to four all-weather interceptor ''Hikōtai'', and Air Proving Ground at Gifu. ;{{NLD}} * Royal Netherlands Air Force (''Koninklijke Luchtmacht'') (KLu) : Acquired 57 U.S.-built and six Fiat-built F-86K Sabres, 1955–1956; and assigned to three squadrons, No. 700, 701 and 702. Operated until 1964. ;{{NOR}} * Royal Norwegian Air Force : Acquired 60 U.S.-built F-86K Sabres, 1955–1956, and four Italian-assembled Fiat K-models. ;{{flag|Philippines|1936}} * Philippine Air Force : Acquired 20 F-86Ds, assigned to 8th Fighter Interceptor Squadron "Vampires" beginning 1960; part of the U.S. military assistance package. ;{{KOR}} * Republic of Korea Air Force : Acquired 40 F-86Ds, beginning 20 June 1955. ;{{ROC-TW}} * Republic of China Air Force ;{{THA}} * Royal Thai Air Force : Acquired 20 F-86Ls. ;{{USA}} * United States Air Force {{further|List of Sabre and Fury units in the US military}} ;{{VEN}} * Venezuelan Air Force : Acquired 79 Fiat-built F-86Ks from West Germany in 1965, they lasted few years in service due to many maintenance issues. ;{{YUG}} * SFR Yugoslav Air Force : Acquired 130 U.S.-made F-86Ds and operated them between 1961 and 1974. 32 of these were modified into a reconnaissance variant utilizing 3 Kodak K-24 cameras mounted in place of the FFAR rockets, the IF-86D.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IF-86D |url=https://achtungskyhawk.com/tag/if-86d/ |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=Achtung, Skyhawk! |date=8 June 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

==Surviving aircraft== {{main article|List of surviving Sabre aircraft}}

[[File:F-86L RTAF.jpg|thumb|A F-86L of the RTAF on display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum]]

==Specifications (F-86D-40-NA)== thumb|200px|North American F-86K ''Sabre''. {{Aircraft specs |ref= Combat Aircraft since 1945,<ref name="Wilson">Wilson 2000, p. 111.</ref> The American Fighter<ref name= "Angelucci">Angelucci and Bowers 1987, pp. 346–47.</ref> |prime units? = imp |crew= one |length m= 12.27 |length ft= 40 |length in= 3 |span m= 11.31 |span ft= 37 |span in= 1.5 |height m= 4.57 |height ft= 15 |empty weight kg= 6,132 |empty weight lb= 13,518 |gross weight kg= 9,060 |gross weight lb= 19,975 |eng1 number= 1 |eng1 name= General Electric J47-GE-17B |eng1 kn= 24.1 |eng1 lbf= 5,425 |eng1 kn-ab= 33.4 |eng1 lbf-ab= 7,500 |max speed kmh= 1,151 |max speed mph= 715 |max speed note=<ref>{{cite book | last=Boyne | first=W.J. | title= Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the U.S. Air Force, 1947-1997 | publisher=St. Martin's Press | series= Thomas Dunne | year= 1998 | isbn=978-0-312-18705-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eaBJjVJSBkwC&pg=PA380 | access-date= May 14, 2019 | page= 380}}</ref> |max speed mach=.93 |range km= 531 |range miles= 330 |ceiling m= 15,163 |ceiling ft= 49,750 |climb rate ms= 61.7 |climb rate ftmin= 12,150 |armament = * 24 × 2.75 in (70 mm) Mighty Mouse FFAR rockets in ventral tray |avionics= *AN/APG-36 all-weather radar }}

==References==

===Notes=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin}} * Allward, Maurice. ''F-86 Sabre''. London: Ian Allan, 1978. {{ISBN|0-7110-0860-4}}. * Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. ''The American Fighter: the Definite Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present''. New York: Orion Books, 1987. {{ISBN|0-517-56588-9}}. * Curtis, Duncan. ''North American F-86 Sabre''. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood, 2000. {{ISBN|1-86126-358-9}}. * Dorr, Robert F. ''F-86 Sabre Jet: History of the Sabre and FJ Fury''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International Publishers, 1993. {{ISBN|0-87938-748-3}}. * Käsmann, Ferdinand C.W. ''Die schnellsten Jets der Welt: Weltrekord- Flugzeuge'' (in German). Oberhaching, Germany: Aviatic Verlag-GmbH, 1994. {{ISBN|3-925505-26-1}}. * Knaack, Marcelle Size. ''Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume 1, Post-World War Two Fighters, 1945-1973''. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1978. {{ISBN|0-912799-59-5}}. * Robinson, Robbie. ''[http://www.editions-minimonde76.com/en/pages/aviation/nato-f-86d-k-sabre-dog.html NATO F-86D/K Sabre Dogs]''. Le Havre, 2018, 120 p. {{ISBN|978-2-9541818-3-7}}. * Swanborough, F. Gordon. ''United States Military Aircraft Since 1909''. London: Putnam, 1963. {{ISBN|0-87474-880-1}}. * Wagner, Ray. ''American Combat Planes - Second Edition''. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1968. {{ISBN|0-370-00094-3}}. * Wagner, Ray. ''The North American Sabre''. London: Macdonald, 1963. No ISBN. * Westrum, Ron. ''Sidewinder''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1999. {{ISBN|1-55750-951-4}}. * Wilson, Stewart. ''Combat Aircraft since 1945''. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2000. {{ISBN|1-875671-50-1}}. {{Refend}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/198076/north-american-f-86d-sabre/ North American F-86D Sabre] - National Museum of the United States Air Force

{{North American Aviation aircraft}} {{F-86 Sabre family}} {{USAF fighters}} {{USAF system codes}} {{Thai fighter designations}} {{YAF aircraft}}

F-086D Sabre Category:1940s United States fighter aircraft F-86D Category:Low-wing aircraft Category:Single-engined jet aircraft Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear