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North American F-86 Sabre

F-86E Three View


F-80B
Making its first flight on October 1, 1947 with WWII triple-ace George Welch at the controls, the XP-86 was the first manned aircraft to exceed the speed of sound (in a dive). Typical of American early jets, it initially suffered from being under-powered. Entering service with the 4th Fighter Group in January of 1949, the F-86A was rushed to Japan in the fall of 1950 to counter the Soviet made (and frequently Soviet flown) MiG-15 after it made its appearance in the sky over Korea. With the F-80 and F-84 being generally outclassed by the MiG, the risk of losing control of the air over the battlefield became a real possibility. Although never available in adequate numbers, the Sabre re-established air superiority despite being outnumbered by the MiGs by as much as 4 to 1. These Sabres were assigned to the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing. The photo dates to the Spring of 1953.


F-80B
In terms of performance, the F-86 held advantages in rate of roll, rate of turn, and maximum speed below 30,000 feet. However, the MiG was clearly superior in climb and acceleration. Perhaps, the greatest advantage of the MiG was its higher ceiling. This allowed the MiGs to have the advantage of altitude, which always translates into having the initial tactical edge in any encounter. Moreover, the MiG pilots could escape across the Yalu river should they find themselves in danger of being shot down. Likewise, the Sabre pilots were able to escape over the sea as Soviet pilots were forbidden to pursue U.N. aircraft over water. Armed with six .50 caliber Browning machine guns, the F-86 lacked the hitting power of the MiGs with their three heavy, but slow firing cannon. Unlike the U.S. Navy, the Air Force elected to refrain from specifying the 20mm cannon. As a result, many MiGs survived hits that would have been fatal had the Sabre been fitted with the much more lethal 20mm weapons.

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