Subject: Number Eighty-Six in the Series--North American F-86 Sabre (13 of 23)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 24 Aug 93 16:21:57 GMT

>From [email-masked]

On February 3, 1953, the North American company proposed a two-seat 
training version of the Sabre, perhaps hoping that the success of 
Lockheed in adapting its single-seat F-80 to the T-33 two-seat trainer 
could be duplicated for the F-86 Sabre.  Initial design work was begun 
as the NA-204 project on April 8 of that year, and the company 
proposed that a stock F-86F-30 be modified by adding a student's 
cockpit ahead of the instructor in a lengthened fuselage and by moving 
the wing forward eight inches to compensate for the shift in center of 
gravity.  Armament was to be deleted, but all the other F-86F-30 
features were to be retained.  However, slatted wings were to be used, 
since it was important to preserve good low-speed handling 
capabilities in an aircraft intended for the training role.  

On September 9, the USAF authorized the conversion of F-86F-30 serial 
number 52-5016 to the two-seat configuration.  The length of the 
fuselage was increased from 37 feet 6 inches to 42 feet 9 inches, and 
the student and instructor were seated in tandem ejector seats 
underneath a long clamshell-type canopy.  The powerplant was the 
J47-GE-27, the same engine which powered the standard F-86F.  The 
aircraft was designated TF-86F.  

The first TF-86F made its maiden flight on December 14, 1953, with Ray 
Morris at the controls.  Bob Hoover also did a considerable amount of 
the early flight testing.  However, on March 17, 1954, on its ninth 
flight, disaster struck.  While doing a slow roll on takeoff, NAA test 
pilot Joe Lynch lost control of his plane and the aircraft crashed.  
Joe Lynch was killed.  

Another conversion to a two-seat Sabre was authorized on March 23 to 
replace the one which had crashed.  The final F-86F-35 off the 
production line (53-1228) was modified to the two-seat TF-86F 
configuration.  It was similar to the first TF-86F, but was armed with 
a pair of 0.50-in machine guns in the nose and was equipped with a 
pair of underwing racks for drop tanks or bombs.  Early-F-86F style 
wing slats were fitted.  

The second TF-86F (53-1338) made its maiden flight on August 5, 1954.  
It was hoped by NAA management that the TF-86F might be considered by 
the USAF as a worthy replacement for the fabulously-successful T-33 
trainer.  In order to try and sell the two-seat Sabre to the USAF, a 
demonstration tour of training bases began on September 2, 1954.  Bob 
Hoover was the point man for these demonstrations, going from one 
training base to another, offering pilots a ride in the second seat 
and giving them an opportunity to see what it was like to fly through 
the sound barrier.  The TF-86F aircraft was delivered to Nellis AFB on 
January 31, 1955.  However, on February 7, the USAF announced that the 
TF-86F would not be getting any production orders, the contract going 
instead to a two-seat version of the F-100 Super Sabre.  

Even though the number two TF-86F never got any production orders, it 
nevertheless served for many years as a chase plane at Edwards AFB.  
It was eventually scrapped.  

Specification of the TF-86F: 

One General Electric J47-GE-27, 5910 pounds static thrust.  Weights were 
14,836 pounds takeoff weight (clean), 18,040 pounds takeoff weight (2 
200-gallon drop tanks plus 60 rounds of ammunition), 12,980 pounds 
combat weight.  Maximum speed (clean) was 692 mph at sea level and 611 
mph at 35,000 feet.  Initial climb rate was 10,300 feet per minute.  
Service ceiling was 50,500 feet.  Maximum ferry range was 1293 miles.  
Dimensions: wingspan 37.12 feet, length 42 feet 9 inches, height 14.79 
feet, wing area 287.9 square feet.  Armed with two 0.50-in machine 
guns in the nose.  
 
Sources:

  F-86 Sabre in Action, Larry Davis, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1992.

  The North American Sabre, Ray Wagner, MacDonald, 1963.

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  Flash of the Sabre, Jack Dean, Wings Vol 22, No 5, 1992.

  F-86 Sabre--History of the Sabre and FJ Fury, Robert F. Dorr, Motorbooks
  International, 1993.

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
2000 North Naperville Road      Naperville, Illinois 60566-7033