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F-86L “Sabre”
SERIAL NUMBER:  53-0704

The North American Aviation F-86 "Sabre" is widely known for its exploits during the Korean conflict.  Flown by better trained American Air Force pilots, the "Sabre" maintained air superiority in the skies over Korea.  For every 14 Soviet-built "MIGs" got destroyed, only one F-86 was lost.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Wing Span: 38 ft 10 in

  • Length: 40 ft 11 in

  • Height: 15 ft 0 in

  • Maximum Speed: 692 mph

  • Range: 769 mi (Ferry)

  • Crew: 1

  • Service Ceiling: 49,750 ft

  • Armament: 24 x 2.75 in rockets, carried internally

  • Engines: 1 x General Electric J-47-33 turbojet-rated at 8,920 lbs thrust

The Heritage Center's F-86L "Sabre"

The  Museum's F-86L "Sabre"

The prototype F-86 "Sabre" made its first flight on 22 December 1949, and carried the distinction of being the first swept wing fighter in the Air Force's inventory.  When production stopped, in December of 1956, 6,210 “Sabres" had been built in the U.S.  Another 3,292 were licensed to be built in Italy, Canada, and Australia.  In all, 96 allied countries including the Air Force of Japan, Taiwan, Spain, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands flew the F-86.

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​Three months before the end of the Korean War, in April of 1953, the F-86H took to the sky.  The "H" model was a day time, fighter-bomber.  Equipped with four 20mm cannons and capable of delivering 3,000 lbs of bombs, the "H" model packed a strong punch. Our F-86 is an "L" model, which is similar to the F-86Ds that were stationed at Travis AFB from 1954 to 1957 with the 513th and 82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadrons.  As all-weather radar equipped interceptors, they carried 24 2.75-inch rockets internally.

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Although the early models of the F-86 were phased out of the Air Force's inventory in 1963, the "K" and "L" models flew into the late 1970s with the Japanese.

2010 March ARB Airfest - F-86 "Sabre" Demonstration

Information derived from, “Travis Heritage Center” by Nick Veronico, copyright Travis AFB Historical Society and Travis AFB Heritage Center Foundation.

This book is available from the Travis Heritage Center gift shop.

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