Subject: Number Eighty-Six in the Series--North American F-86 Sabre (17 of 23)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 31 Aug 93 16:25:14 GMT

>From [email-masked]

The F-86L was the designation given to late-1950s conversions of 
existing USAF F-86Ds to use the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment 
(SAGE) datalink system.  

The SAGE system was developed during the early 1950s by the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory.  It was 
based on the use of a large, high-speed ground-based computer to 
handle air surveillance data from various ground radar installations.  
This information was transmitted to a special data receiver aboard the 
interceptor, and an on-board system converted this data into heading, 
speed, altitude, target bearing, and range information to guide the 
pilot in his interception.  No voice instructions were used, and the 
interceptor was automatically positioned for a lead-collision attack 
with its own E-4 fire control system.  

In the mid 1950s, it was decided to adapt the F-86D to the new SAGE 
system, and in 1956, 2192 conversion kits were ordered for the F-86Ds 
of the Air Defense Command (ADC).  F-86D interceptors were withdrawn 
one-by-one from service and fitted with the upgrade.  Following the 
upgrade, they were redesignated F-86L.  The F-86D-10 to F-86D-40 
became F-86L-11 to F-86L-41, and the F-86D-45 to F-86D-60 became 
F-86L-45 to F-86L-60.  

When F-86Ds were upgraded to the F-86L configuration, an AN/ARR-39 
datalink receiver was fitted, which had a blade-like antenna sticking 
out of the fuselage just forward of and below the starboard wing.  The 
AN/ARC-27 command radio was replaced by an AN/ARC-34 set.  An 
AN/APX-25 identification radar was added, and a new AN/ARN-31 glide 
slope receiver was provided.  

In the F-86L, two cooling air intakes were added to the fuselage sides 
just aft of the wing.  The same J47-GE-33 or J47-GE-17B engine of the 
F-86D was retained, but the F-86L was fitted with the F-86F-40 wing, 
with twelve-inch wingtip extensions and "6-3" leading edge extensions 
with slats.  The wingspan and wing area were 39.1 feet and 313.37 
square feet respectively.  The new wing improved the handing ability 
and provided better turning at high altitudes.  The reconditioned 
F-86Ls retained the armament of twenty-four rockets of the F-86D.  

A total of 981 F-86Ds were modified to the F-86L configuration.  After 
conversion in 1956-57, F-86Ls were issued to most of the ADC wings 
that were using the F-86D.  As the Convair F-102A and F-106A 
delta-winged interceptors became available to the ADC, the F-86Ls were 
transferred to Air National Guard units beginning in late 1957.  The 
first ANG squadron to receive the F-86L was the 108th, based at O'Hare 
Field in Chicago.  The following ANG squadrons got F-86Ls: 108, 111, 
124, 127, 128, 133, 146, 147, 151, 156, 156, 158, 159, 173, 181, 182, 
185, 187, 190, 191, 192, 194, 197, and 199.  

During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, six ANG F-86L squadrons were 
on alert.  The last F-86Ls were withdrawn from ANG service during the 
summer of 1965.  These F-86Ls were, incidentally, the last Sabres to 
be in service with any ANG squadrons.  

Seventeen F-86Ls were supplied to the Royal Thai Air Force.  So far as 
I am aware, Thailand was the only foreign user of the F-86L.  

Specification of the F-86L: 

One General Electric J47-GE-33, 5550 lb.st. dry, 7650 lb.st with 
afterburner.  Dimensions: wingspan 39 feet 1 inch, length 40 feet 3 
inches, height 15 feet, wing area 313 square feet.  Maximum speed: 693 
mph at sea level, 616 mph at 40,000 feet.  Initial climb rate was 
12,200 feet per minute, and service ceiling was 49,600 feet.  Weights: 
13,822 pounds empty, 18,484 pounds gross. 
 
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.

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