F-86 Sabre Wallpapers

F-86 Sabre Military aircraft, photo wallpapers: The North American F-86 Sabre was a subsonic combat aircraft developed for the US Air Force. It was developed in the 1940s following the end of WWII and was one of the most-produced jet fighters. The first proposals for the aircraft were made in 1944, but construction was not begun until after World War II. The XP-86 prototype, which would become the F-86 Sabre, first flew on October 1, 1947. (George Welch claimed that he broke the sound barrier on this flight, 14 days before Chuck Yeager went supersonic in the Bell X-1.) [br]The F-86 was manufactured as both a fighter-interceptor and fighter-bomber. As such, several variations of the F-86 Sabre jet were introduced over time, with improvements and different armaments implemented. Early models such as the F-86A had thrust of only 5,200 lbf (23 kN) while later models such as the F-86F had as much as 10,000 lbf (44 kN) from its single engine. F-86Fs were the main fighter variation that saw action during the Korean War. The fighter-bomber version (F-86H) could carry up to 2000 pounds (900 kg) of bombs, including an external fuel-type tank that could carry napalm. Both the interceptor and fighter versions carried six Browning M2 .50 in (12.7 mm) caliber machine guns in the nose (Later versions of the F-86H carried four 20 mm cannon instead of machine guns). Guns were harmonized to converge at 1000 feet (300 m) in front of the aircraft with one tracer bullet for every five rounds. Most rounds used during the Korean War were API (Armor-piercing incendiary) bullets containing magnesium which ignited upon impact. Unguided 2.75 inch (70 mm) rockets were used on some of the fighters in target practice, but 5 inch (127 mm) rockets were later used in combat operations. The planes could also be fitted with a pair of external jettisonable fuel tanks that added a few more hours of air time. The F-86 Sabre entered service in 1949 and was the primary United States Air Force jet fighter used in the Korean War. It often was placed in combat against a nearly equal Soviet MiG-15. [br]Superior US pilot training versus Korean and Chinese training accounted for some of the US success in the air war with a kill ratio originally reported as 14 to 1 claimed by the Air Force in MiG Alley. MiG Alley was a hotbed for air-to-air combat near the Yalu River between the boundaries of Korea and China. Early sources attribute the F-86's all-moving tailplane to giving the Sabre a decisive advantage over the MiG-15. However, this claim has since been downplayed. [br]Other factors included Soviet pilots' reluctance to engage Americans over battlefields for fear of being captured. Technically the Soviet Union was not involved in the Korean War and, as such, could not afford captured pilots. So-called "black-nosed" MiG's often had Soviet or Chinese instructors at the controls and were well-known by American pilots. In one case a MiG was shot down over South Korean airspace by a Sabre and the Soviet pilot committed suicide to avoid being captured. Review of recently released Soviet documents that had been classified top secret until the fall of the Soviet Union shows that the American pilots claimed to shoot down more than twice the number of MiG-15s than the Soviets claim ever served in Korea, though discounting these possibly extra kills, the ratio would still be in the Sabre's favour. The disparity between Soviet and American accounts of the air war is startling. Neither side's loss records can confirm the majority of the victories claimed by the other side. Many of the air engagements reported can actually be corroborated by both sides, but then each would claim several victories and neither would show any losses. Soviet sources claim a very favorable kill ratio: over 1,300 MiG-15 victories against only 345 MiGs lost. It should also be noted that this figure includes other aircraft, such as bombers and other fighters (the number of Sabres claimed is 650). [br]Triple-jet aces flying the F-86 in the Korean War included Captain Joseph C. McConnell who later died as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in the crash of an F-86H. Colonel James Jabara at Kimpo Air Base was also a triple-jet ace. Future astronaut John Glenn also flew an Air Force F-86 during the war as a Marine Corps exchange pilot; his plane was painted with the name "MiG Mad Marine." In the air to air combats, the PAF lost 15 Sabres to Indian Fighters - 8 to Hawker Hunters and 7 to Folland Gnats. In turn, 8 Hunters and 2 Gnats were shot down by Sabres. This poor performance was despite the F-86s of the PAF being armed with AIM-9B/GAR-8 Sidewinder missiles whereas none of the Hunters or Gnats had missiles. Tactics called for Gnats taking on the Sabres in the vertical where they had a chance. Sabres however, performed well in ground attack, claiming 10 aircraft on the ground at Indian airfields at Halwara and Pathankot. During the war United States barred the sales of the F-86 to Pakistan. Nonetheless, Pakistan maintained its F-86 fleet through sales of Iranian Sabres and CL-13s (Canadian-made F-86 Sabres). Despite some early successes in the war, the F-86 proved vulnerable to the dimunitive Folland Gnat, which downed 7 Sabres. [br]Action in the Indo-Pakistani War (1971) [br]The collapse of the Pakistan Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 is partly attributed to the poor performance of the F-86s and F-104 Starfighters. In general, these were dominated by the much more modern Soviet MiG-21s acquired by the Indian Air Force. Even the venerable Gnats of the IAF once again demonstrated their hold over the Sabres downing several craft and earning the reputation of "Sabre killer". [1] All PAF squadrons were demolished in East Pakistan and few of Sabres were lost to enemy aircraft and ground fire. The most notable of these was Battle of Boyra where 4 Gnats downed 3 Sabres in the first ever dog fighting over East Pakistan. After this war, Pakistan replaced its F-86 Sabres with Chinese F-6 (Russian MiG-19 Farmer) fighters. They also expanded their fleet of Mirage IIIs. [br]F-86 Sabres nevertheless remain a legend in Pakistan and are seen as a symbol of pride. They are now displayed in Pakistan Air Force Museum and in the cities to which their famous fliers belonged. [br]Breaking the sound barrier [br]The F-86 was the first production aircraft to break the sound barrier. Officially, the XP-86 first broke the sound barrier on April 26, 1948. However, George Welch made a plausable but unrecognized claim that he broke the sound barrier in the XP-86 on October 1, 1947, 14 days before Chuck Yeager officially became the first man to break the sound barrier in the Bell X-1. (The X-1 was the first aircraft to sustain supersonic speeds in level flight making it the first true supersonic aircraft. The F-86 was never considered a supersonic aircraft.) [br]Production history: [br]XF-86 � three unarmed protypes, originally designated XP-86, North American model NA-140 [br]P-86A - The original designation of the F-86A. [br]F-86A � 554 built, North American model NA-151 (F-86A-1 block and first order of A-5 block) and NA-161 (second F-86A-5 block) [br]DF-86A � a few F-86A conversions as drone directors [br]RF-86A � 11 F-86A conversions with three cameras for reconnaissance [br]F-86B � 188 ordered as upgraded A-model with wider fuselage and larger tires but delivered as F-86A-5, North American model NA-152 [br]F-86C � original designation for the YF-93A, two built, order for 118 cancelled, North American model NA-157 [br]YF-86D � all-weather night-fighter model originally ordered as YF-95A, two built but designation changed to YF-86D, North American model NA-164 [br]F-86D � production model of night-fighter originally designated F-95A, 2,504 built, North American model NA-165 (F-86D-1 through D-15 blocks), NA-177 (F-86D-20 and first order of D-25 blocks), NA-173 (second order of F-86D-25 and D-30 through D-35 blocks), NA-190 (F-86D-45 and D-50 blocks) and NA-201 (F-86D-55 and D-60 blocks) [br]F-86E � As F-86A but with an all-flying tail, 456 built, North American model NA-170 (F-86E-1 and E-5 blocks), NA-172 (F-86E-10 and E-15 blocks; also F-86E-6-CAN block for Royal Canadian Air Force - some later to the Royal Air Force) [br]F-86E(M) � designation for ex-RAF Sabres diverted to other NATO air forces [br]QF-86E � designation for surplus RCAF Sabre Mk. Vs modified to target drones [br]F-86F � as F-86E but with uprated engine and extended "6-3" wing leading edge, North American model NA-172 (F-86F-1 through F-15 blocks), NA-176 (F-86F-20 and -25 blocks), NA-191 (F-86F-30 and -35 blocks), NA-193 (F-86F-26 block), NA-202 (F-86F-35 block), NA-227 (first two orders of F-86F-40 blocks comprising 280 aircraft which reverted to leading edge wing slats of an improved design), NA-231 (70 in third F-40 block order), NA-238 (110 in fourth F-40 block order), and NA-256 (120 in final F-40 block order); some airframes in this series assembled by Mitsubishi in Japan for Japanese Air Self-Defense Force [br]QF-86F � about 50 former JASDF F-86F airframes converted to drones for use as targets by the U.S. Navy [br]RF-86F � some F-86F-30s converted with three cameras for reconnaissance; also eighteen JASDF aircraft similarly converted [br]TF-86F � two F-86F converted to two-seat training configuration with lengthened fuselage and slatted wings under North American model NA-204 [br]F-86G � provisional designation for F-86D variant with uprated engine and equipment changes, 406 built as F-86D models [br]YF-86H � extensively redesigned fighter-bomber model with deeper fuselage, uprated engine, longer wings and power-boosted tailplane, two built as North American model NA-187 [br]F-86H � production model, 473 built, with Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) and provision for nuclear weapon, North American model NA-187 (F-86H-1 and H-5 blocks) and NA-203 (F-86H-10 block) [br]QF-86H � target conversion of 29 airframes for use at United States Naval Weapons Center [br]F-86J � single F-86A-5-NA, serial 49-1069, flown with Orenda turbojet under North American model NA-167 - same designation reserved for A-models flown with the Canadian engines but project not proceeded with [br]YF-86K � Basic version of F-86D intended for export with rocket tray replaced by four 20 mm cannon and simplified fire control system, two conversions [br]F-86K � NATO version of F-86D with 120 built by North American and 221 kits for assembly by Fiat, North American model NA-222 (first 50 as F-86K-NF), NA-213 (F-86K-13 through K-19 blocks) and NA-221 (125 F-86K-NF assembled by Fiat) and NA-242 (final 45 F-86K-NF assembled by Fiat) [br]F-86L � Upgrade conversion of F-86D with new electronics, extended wingtips and wing leading edges, revised cockpit layout and uprated engine with reheat, 981 converted. 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