Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-86>HA4312
North American F-86F Sabre 52-4584, "MIG MAD MARINE" of Major John Glenn, 25th FS, Suwon AB, 1953
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
USMC Major John H. Glenn Jr. had flown with VMF-311 but became an exchange pilot assigned
to the USAF 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Group at K13 Suwon,
Korea. He was equipped with an F-86F-30 serial number 52-4548 with the names of his wife and
two children painted on it. Glenn had complained of a lack of MiGs and one morning came out to
find “MiG Mad Marine” had been added. During the final two weeks of the war Glenn downed
three MiG-15s.
Specifications :
| Crew: | 1 |
| 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) |
| Weights: | |
| Empty: | 11,125 lb (5,046 kg) |
| Loaded: | 15,198 lb (6,894 kg) |
| Maximum Take-off: | 18,152 lb (8,234 kg) |
| Powerplant: | 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) |
| Range: | 1,525 miles (2,454 km) |
| Service Ceiling: | 49,600 ft @ combat weight (15,100 km) |
| ROC: | 9,000 ft/min @ sea level (45.72 m/s) |
| 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 selecte |