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THE PLANES - The North American FJ Fury
History: In 1944, North American Aviation submitted a design for a swept-wing
day fighter which could also be used as a dive-bomber or escort fighter. Two
prototype XP-86s were contracted in late 1944, but were not built until after
WWII due to the incorporation of several design modifications which were
prompted by German research data. The first XP-86 prototype flew on 1 October
1947, powered by a 3,750-pound thrust G.E. J35 engine. After it was re-engined
with a more powerful G.E. J47 turbojet the following spring, it was redesignated
the YP-86A, and exceeded the speed of sound in a shallow dive. The first
production model was initially designated the P-86A, but became the F-86A in
June 1948. By the time the new fighter entered US Air Force service in 1949, it
had gained the name "Sabre."
Many variants were produced throughout the Sabre's life, the most numerous being
the F-86D, an all-weather/night fighter, or which 2,054 were built. In addition
to the Sabres built by North American, Canadair Ltd. in Montreal built 60 F-86Es
for the US Air Force, plus at least 1,750 Sabre Mk 2/3/4/5/6s for the Royal
Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The later Sabres were powered by
various models of the native Orenda engine. Construction of the Sabre was also
undertaken by Australia's Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, which modified the
aircraft design to accept two 30-mm Aden guns and a Rolls-Royce Avon 26 engine.
Similarly, Fiat in Italy assembled at least 220 F-86Ks from component kits
provided by North American, and Japan's Mitsubishi company assembled
approximately 300 more.
An offshoot of the F-86 program began when the US Navy and Marine Corps
submitted a request for an evaluation variant of the F-86E Sabre, which they
designated the XFJ-2 Fury. This new airplane had an arresting hook, an extended
nose gear, and a catapult hitch. Later variants of the Fury improved on these
features. The FJ-2 had folding wings, the FJ-3 had a deeper fuselage and more
powerful engine, and the totally-redesigned FJ-4 and FJ-4B attack aircraft bear
only a passing resemblance to their predecessors.
The F-86 saw extensive action in the Korean war, where it was often pitted
against the slightly superior MiG-15. Despite the imbalance of capability in
their airplanes, Sabre pilots were able to gain superiority over the MiGs. F-86s
were exported to many nations around the world, and several live on as target
drones, test and research aircraft and, of course, privately-owned warbirds.
Nicknames: Sabredog; Dog; Dogship (F-86D); Cheesefighter (Dutch F-86Ks, named
after the former Amsterdam Superintendant of Police, a Mr. Kaasjager, whose name
translated to "Cheesefighter" or "Cheesehunter").
Specifications (F-86D):
Engine: One 7,500-pound thrust afterburning General Electric J47-GE-17B or -33
turbojet
Weight: Empty 12,470 lbs., Max Takeoff 17,100 lbs.
Wing Span: 37ft. 1in.
Length: 40ft. 4in.
Height: 15ft. 0in.
Performance: Maximum Speed at Seal Level: 707 mph
Ceiling: 45,600 ft.
Range: 835 miles
Armament: 24 69.9-mm (2.75-inch) air-to-air rockets
Number Built: 9,502
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