Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-86>HA4302

General Background

The North American F-86 Sabre was manufactured from 1949 – 1956 and was America's first swept-wing fighter. As well as being built in the U.S. variants were built in Canada and Australia bringing the total of all variants manufactured to 9,860 units. During the Korean War the Sabre arrived to take on the other swept-wing aircraft of the conflict, the MiG-15 Fagot. The Americans claim they shot down 792 MiGs while only losing 78 Sabres, a 10:1 victory ratio which is greatly disputed.

The Aircraft

In 1958 Nationalist China MIG-17s had an altitude advantage over the RoCAF F-86Fs and would cruise over the Sabres picking and choosing when to strike. That is until the USN provided the ROC with the new AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Initially 20 F-86s were modified to carry the AIM-9. On September 24, 1958 MIG-17s proceeded as normal and the RoCAF F-86Fs began to launch the Sidewinders destroying 10 MIGs with 2 probables with no loss of Sabres. F-86F 24494 was the first to claim a victory.

Specifications :

Crew:	1 x pilot
Dimensions
Length:	37 ft 1 ins (11.4 m)
Wingspan:	37 ft 0 ins (11.3 m)
Height:	14 ft 1 ins (4.5 m)
Weight:
Empty:	11,125 lb (5,046 kg)
Loaded:	15,198 lb (6,894 kg)
Maximum take-off:	18,152 lb (8,234 kg)
Performance
Power Plant:	1 – General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojet
Thrust:	5,910 lbf (maximum @7,950 rpm for 5 minutes) 26.3 kN)
Fuel:	JP-4
Internal:	437 US gallons (1,650 l)
Drop Tanks:	2 x 200 US gallons (760 l)
Maximum speed:	687 mph (1,106 km/h) @ sea level and combat weight of 14,212 lb (6,447 kg)
ROC:	9,000 ft/min @ sea level (45.72 m/s)
Service Ceiling:	49,600 ft @ combat weight (15,100 km)
Range:	1,525 miles (2,454 km)
Armament:
Guns:	6 x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns w/1,602 rounds
Rockets:	various rocket launchers, example 2 x Matra rocket pods w/18 SNEB (French manufacturer - Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt) 68 mm air-to-ground rockets per pod
Bombs:	5,300 lb (2,400 kg) of payload on 4 outer hardpoints while 2 inner pylons were designed for 2 drop tanks to extend range. A variety of bombs could be carried with standard maximum load of 2 x 1000lb bombs on outer pylons plus 2 x 200 US gallon drop tanks on the 2 inner pylons. Napalm canisters and even tactical nuclear weapons could be selected.