Subject: Number Eighty-Six in the Series--North American F-86 Sabre (15 of 23)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 26 Aug 93 16:28:59 GMT

>From [email-masked]

The production run of the F-86F Sabre finally ended with the delivery 
of the last F-86F-35-NA in August of 1954.  At that time, it was 
assumed that this would be the end of the line for the day-fighter 
Sabre, as plans were already being made for the F-86F Sabre to be 
replaced in service by supersonic types such as the F-100.  However, 
the USAF was finding that it was impossible to meet its commitments to 
Asian allies such as Nationalist China and Japan by using the surplus 
F-86Fs already available from USAF stocks.  Consequently, the F-86F 
was put back into production to meet this demand.  

The new model was known as the NA-227 to the company and as the 
F-86F-40-NA on USAF rolls.  A contract for 215 was formally approved 
on June 27, 1955.  USAF serials were 55-3816/4030.  65 more -40s were 
added to the contract on March 27, 1956, with USAF serials being 
55-4983/5047.  USAF serials were assigned to these planes because they 
were purchased with MDAP funds, even though they were not intended for 
USAF service.  

The first F-86F-40-NA (serial number 55-3816) rolled out of the 
factory in October of 1955.  The new F-86F Sabre was powered by the 
same J47-GE-27 of the earlier Fs, but had a different wing.  It had 
the "6-3" extended wing leading edge of the earlier Fs, but leading 
edge slats were once again fitted in an attempt to improve the low 
speed handling properties.  In addition, the wing tips were extended, 
increasing the wing area from 302.3 square feet to 313.4 square feet 
and the wing span from 37.12 feet to 39.11 feet.  The wing slats and 
the increased wing area markedly improved the handling, especially at 
low speeds.  The low-speed roll-and-yaw problem which had plagued the 
"6-3" F-86F Sabres was largely eliminated.  Stalling speed was reduced 
from 144 mph to 124 mph, and 800 feet were shaved from the takeoff 
ground run.  These improvements in handling and turning ability led 
the USAF to decide to upgrade many of their existing F-86F-25 and 
F-86F-30 Sabres to F-86F-40 standards.  

The last of 280 California-built F-86F-40-NA (55-5047) was delivered 
in December of 1956.  This was the last of 5035 California-built 
Sabres.  The F-86F-40-NA was designed purely for export, and never 
served operationally with any USAF units.  The following nations 
operated F-86F-40-NAs: 

Japan: 

The Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) was the first customer for 
the F-86F-40-NA, receiving its first examples in 1956.  These 
supplemented the F-86F-25s and -30s that had already been supplied 
from US surplus stocks to equip the first postwar Japanese fighter 
squadrons.  These aircraft were from the first US-built production 
block (USAF serials 55-3816/4030) and carried the JASDF serials 
62-7431/7535.  

In order to supplement US production of the F-86F-40-NA, an 
arrangement was made for Mitsubishi (the wonderful folks who brought 
you the Zero) to assemble Sabres in Japan from kits made in 
California.  This included seventy sets manufactured under the company 
designation NA-231 (USAF serials 55-5048/5117), 110 sets under the 
company designation NA-238 (USAF serials 56-2773/2882), and 120 sets 
under the company designation NA-256 (USAF serials 57-6338/6457).  
These 300 Japanese-assembled Sabres were all meant for service with 
JASDF.  The first Nagoya-assembled Sabre flew on August 9, 1956, and 
the last one was completed on February 25, 1961.  The 
Mitsubishi-assembled F-86F-40-NAs carried JASDF serials 62-7701/7705, 
72-7706/7773, 82-7774/7868, 92-7869/7880, 92-7881/7940, 02-7941/7991, 
12-7992/7999, and 12-7000 (although it isn't clear why the last plane 
wasn't assigned the serial number 12-8000).  

Mitsubishi converted 18 JASDF F-86Fs to the RF-86F reconnaissance 
configuration in 1961/62.  These went to the 501st Hikotai, which 
operated them until 1979 when they were replaced by the RF-4E Phantom.  

The arrival of the Sidewinder missile in Japan in November of 1959 
markedly enhanced the capabilities of JASDF Sabres.  Sabres served 
with ten squadrons, numbered 1 through 10, as well as with the 
well-known Blue Impulse aerobatic team.  The last F-86F squadron was 
No. 6, which re-equipped with the Mitsubishi F-1 in 1980.  The last 
Japanese F-86F (63-7497) made its final flight on March 15, 1982.  

Pakistan: 

Pakistan received 120 ex USAF F-86F-35s and US-built F-86F-40s in 
1956-58.  Many of the -35s were brought up to -40 standards before 
they were delivered to Pakistan.  They were operated by PAF Nos. 14, 
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 26 Squadrons.  They were to participate in the 
22-day war with India in 1965 over the status of Kashmir.  By this 
time, the Sabre was no longer a world-class fighter, since fighters 
with Mach 2 performance were now in service.  Nevertheless, the 
Pakistani F-86Fs were able to give a good account of themselves.  The 
top Pakistani ace of the conflict was Wing Commander Mohammed Mahmood 
Alam, who ended the conflict with a total of 11 kills.  Five of his 
victories were scored in a single day (September 7, 1965), making Alam 
the only jet "ace-in-a-day".  Even more remarkable, four of these 
kills were scored by Wing Commander Alam in a space of less than one 
minute.  These five kills were all against Indian Air Force Hawker 
Hunter Mk.56 fighters, which were export versions of the Hunter Mk.6 
of the Royal Air Force.  

The Pakistani F-86Fs did less well against the IAF Folland Gnat, which 
was small, nimble, and hard to see.  Nevertheless, only seven 
Pakistani Sabres were lost in air combat during the 1965 conflict.  

When Pakistan and India fought each other again in December 1971, the 
Sabres were in action once more.  By this time, the US-built F-86Fs 
had been joined by Canadian-built Sabre Mk.6s.  acquired from surplus 
West German Luftwaffe stocks.  Pakistani Sabres accounted for a large 
fraction of the PAF's 141 aerial victory claims.  Kills were 
reportedly scored against Indian warplanes such as Folland Gnats, 
MiG-21s and Su-7s.  

The last Pakistani Sabres were withdrawn in 1980, following a series 
of fatigue-related accidents.  A PAF F-86F-40 (55-5005) is on display 
at the Peshawar air base in Pakistan.  

Thailand: 

Thailand received the last of 40 F-86Fs in March of 1962.  They served 
with Nos.  12, 13 and 43 Squadrons.  They were replaced in 1966 by 
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighters.  

Iraq: 

The Iraqi Air Force received five F-86Fs just before the coup of July 
1958 which overthrew the royal family of that country.  Since Iraq 
left the Baghdad Pact shortly after that, no more Sabres were 
delivered, and Iraq was subsequently supplied primarily with 
Soviet-built equipment.  

Specification of F-86F-40-NA: One General Electric J47-GE-27, 5910 
lb.st.  Dimensions: wingspan 39.11 feet, length 37.54 feet, height 
14.74 feet, wing area 313.37 square feet.  Weights: 11,125 pounds 
empty, takeoff weight 15,198 pounds (clean), 18,152 pounds (2 
200-gallon drop tanks), 20,611 pounds (2 200-gallon drop tanks plus 2 
1000 pound bombs).  Maximum speed 678 mph at sea level, 599 mph at 
35,000 feet (at 15,352 pounds combat weight).  Initial climb rate 8100 
feet per minute.  Altitude of 30,000 feet reached in 5.2 minutes 
(clean).  47,000 feet service ceiling.  Combat radius 463 miles.  
Ferry range 1525 miles.  

Serials:

55-3816/4030 	North American F-86F-40-NA Sabre 
55-4983/5047 	North American F-86F-40-NA Sabre 
55-5048/5117 	North American F-86F-40-NA Sabre assembled by Mitsubishi
56-2773/2882 	North American F-86F-40-NA Sabre assembled by Mitsubishi 
57-6338/6457 	North American F-86F-40-NA Sabre assembled by Mitsubishi 

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.

  The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, MacDonald, 1966.

  The World's Fighting Planes, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.

  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.

  Thirty Seconds over Sargodha, John Fricker, Air Enthusiast, Vol 1, No 1,
  1971.

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