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.

North American F-86F-1NA Sabre variant was the beginning of the new F models. F-86F-1NA
Sabre 51-2897 was assigned to Lt. James Thompson of the 39th FIS, 51st FIW and given the
name “The Huff” after he shot down a MiG-15 with a dragon painted on it. Thinking along the
lines of a “kill marking” Lt. Thompson asked to have a dragon painted on the aircraft. The result
was a 10 foot dragon that the C/O ordered removed but the story of a dragon MiG-15 being shot
down saved the scheme.

Specifications for the North American F-86F-30

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 selected.

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