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FU-385 (52-5385) North American F-86F-35-NA Sabre c/n 191-876 - U.S. Air Force - NMM Soesterberg in Holland - 3 March 2015 Daussault MD.450B Ouragon

The North American F-86 Sabre is a single-seat day-fighter aircraft and the first swept-wing airplane in the U.S. fighter inventory. North American Aviation Corp started in 1944 with the development of the straight winged XFJ-1 Fury their first jet fighter designated for the U.S. Navy. When the U.S. Air Force asked for a day fighter that could reach 600 mph and could also be used as a dive-bomber or escort fighter, North American redesigned the Fury. In 1945, the design initially named NA-140, passed the proposition stage. The problem, however, was that the NA-140 was to slow. After World War II the North American engineers could study a Me-262 that had slats and swept wings. Research in the aerodynamic design of the NA-140 resulted in the prototype XP-86 with introducing slats and swept back wings. The first of three XP-86 prototypes flew on 1 October 1947, powered by General Electric J-35 engine. The NA-151 production model used the more powerful General Electric J-47 turbojet and flew first on 20 May 1948. In June 1948, the model was renamed the F-86A, after the U.S.A.F used Fighter instead of Pursuit. On 15 September 1948, an F-86A set a new world speed record of 670.9 mph. By the time the new fighter entered US Air Force service in 1949, it was known as the "Sabre." or Sabrejet. 554 F-86A planes were manufactured. When production of the Sabre with the latest model F-86K terminated in 1958 a total of over 9500 of all models were constructed, including licence production in Australia, Canada and Italy. In addition, 300 F-86F Sabres were assembled in Japan by Mitsubishi in 1956-1961.

On 3 March 2015, the 1952-built North American F-86F-35-NA Sabre FU-385 (52-5385) was seen in 32nd FDS colors on display at the ramp of the NMM (Nationaal Militair Museum) at the former AFB Soesterberg. However coded as FU-385 / 25385 this aircraft was never flown by 32nd FDS at Soesterberg. This North American F-86F-35-NA Sabre is the ex 52-5180 that served with the U.S. Air Force and in 1959 was transferred to the FAP - Portuguese Air Force as 5307. Early November 1979, the 5307 was flown to Soesterberg by a Lockheed C-130 Hercules. At Soesterberg the aircraft was repainted in USAF '25385' colors with 32nd FDS tail sceme. Early 1991 the Sabre was added to the collection of the MLM at Soesterberg. On 1 July 2013, the MLM (Militaire Luchtvaart Museum) was closed and the collection, including the North American F-86F-35-NA Sabre FU-385, went to the new build NMM that opened on 11 December 2014. The real 52-5385 was written off at Luke AFB, Arizona, on 13 July 1962.

page last updated: 27-03-2015
Copyright © Jack Wolbrink, Emmen, the Netherlands
 

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