"F-86A Sabre"

[Bomber_12th]

Earlier this past week, the world's only airworthy F-86A, N48178 (former G-SABR), flew for the first time since arriving in the US last year. Extensive inspections and maintenance were performed by Heritage Aero (Rockford, IL), and two new fuel cells had to be manufactured and installed in the aircraft. This aircraft of course was based and flown in the UK for many years (1992 to 2014), and was first restored to flight in the 1970's.

https://www.facebook.com/Heritage-Aero-Inc-126524887518750/timeline/

(There are only 2 or 3 other known surviving F-86A's in existence, and one of those has also been under restoration to fly, owned by the Flying Heritage Collection (49-1217) - it is scheduled to be completed next year (as is the Flying Heritage Collection's original Me-262).)

Screenshots feature the Milviz F-86 with a repaint of the aforementioned Sabre, by Skyhawk18 (available in the SOH file library). Rumor has it that the aircraft may soon have its silver paint stripped off and be re-finished in polished bare metal.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_1_zpsnwqcre9o.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_1_zpsnwqcre9o.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_2_zpsy0cxiro3.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_2_zpsy0cxiro3.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_3_zpslei8xlic.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_3_zpslei8xlic.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_4_zpscu1n4ksg.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_4_zpscu1n4ksg.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_5_zpsalxmycck.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_5_zpsalxmycck.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_6_zpshkzsmrf6.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_6_zpshkzsmrf6.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_7_zpse7nfviki.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_7_zpse7nfviki.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_8_zpsfnih6sxe.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_8_zpsfnih6sxe.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_9_zpsuw1oyvsc.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_9_zpsuw1oyvsc.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_10_zpsj5fixjs9.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_10_zpsj5fixjs9.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_11_zpsuca70x06.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_11_zpsuca70x06.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th104/f86a_12_zpsx7nwiyi4.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th104/f86a_12_zpsx7nwiyi4.jpg.html)

[Katoun]

Hi John,

The rumours are true. Colin will be doing the new materials on the F-86 this week. As well, it looks like we will be going into beta on the Tacpack version of that this week as well.

John, would you mind please, emailing Colin? (Colin at milviz dot com).

Thank you.

Kat.

[Ian Warren]

I think we are so lucky MILVIZ really hooked into this one, other than the little Spitfire, I recall this was the first plastic kitset, don't remember the brand name, I got it completed only to swap, since the father served in Korea, I said "hey pops since you must have seen these in around the airbases " I traded it for my dads whooping great completed Bristol (B.O.A.C) Britannia ... Kids aye :engel016:

[Mach3DS]

John Fantastic screens! I'm really looking forward to the new materials...been a long time coming and will really make this one perfect IMHO. It's my favorite aircraft I think for the era. Your screens do her justice. I can't believe you're flying a turbojet! ;)

[Bomber_12th]

Thanks guys! I was actually referring to the real aircraft, that will be paint stripped and metal polished.

[DaveB]

hahahaha..

Nice screens as always John. Had the pleasure of seeing this one fly many times in the UK. A lovely aircraft.. always well presented and flown:encouragement:
ATB
DaveB:)

[Stickshaker]

Beautiful shots, John! And thanks for the update, Katoun. I'm very glad that we'll fly a Tacpac Sabre, well... soon.

[Stickshaker]

Hello Katoun,

Some here will probably laugh me out of the room, but would you consider in the update a simple ctl e way of starting the Sabre? I do like performing the start-up sequence; if gives a feeling of 'being there'. But I notice that if I have not flown the Sabre for some time, I have to go through the manual again to start it up. If I just want to make a short flight after work or so, then I will usually take a plane that I can jump in and fly. Your F-4E, for example, or your P-38. I can't believe that I am the only one in this.

[Bomber_12th]

I can't believe you're flying a turbojet! ;)

Yeah, Rick, my interest in jets is very limited, but the F-86 has always topped it. Such a beautiful design and a superb aircraft - loved by all who have flown it, both in combat and in peacetime. Steve Hinton, who has flown more warbirds than anyone else, including some of the rarest types still in existence, considers the F-86 his favorite. In direct contrast to one of the "reviews" you can see on Youtube for this product (by, sadly, a well known reviewer, who obviously knows nothing about the real aircraft), the F-86 is a beautiful flying aircraft, easy to fly, a great performer, and it did a stellar job in Korea.

[Bomber_12th]

It is great news about the new materials for the Milviz product! In recent years, more and more F-86's are being restored to flight, and it is very much in "vogue" to have one's F-86 in polished bare metal.

The Planes of Fame F-86 (N186AM) in its new polished bare metal finish and "Jolley Roger" markings:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/17154153@N07/19919783022/sizes/l

The Friedkin family/Comanche Fighters F-86 "Hell-er Bust" (N1F) - this is the same one that used to be owned by Ed Shipley, and Frank Borman before that:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgorun/19683904223/sizes/l

The late Tom Wood/Heritage Aircraft Sales F-86 (N86F):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75957202@N07/17863835392/sizes/l

The Warbird Heritage Foundation F-86 (N188RL):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96656285@N08/16701494754/sizes/l

A section of Paul Wood's F-86, under restoration to fly at Heritage Aero:
https://www.facebook.com/126524887518750/photos/a.378989165605653.1073741825.126524887518750/464547400383162/?type=3&theater

Rod Lewis F-86 (N186PJ) under restoration to fly at Fighter Rebuilders:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50393882@N00/20990262861/sizes/l

Robert Green's F-86 (N87FS) nearing completion of overhaul to fly again, painted in the markings of the "Minute Men":
https://www.facebook.com/139529076480/photos/a.433703146480.202004.139529076480/10152987686181481/?type=3&theater


I'm really looking forward to seeing what the Flying Heritage Collection's F-86A will look like when it is completed/debuted, as they typically strive for the highest level of accuracy/authenticity in most of their restorations - to make them only just as they were when they originally came from the factory.

[glennc]

One more that I see often: NX4689H at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison, Texas, near Dallas. I've never seen it fly but it looks like it could.

Glenn

[PRB]

Earlier this past week, the world's only airworthy F-86A, N48178 ...

Dang, I wonder what happened to this one. Shot this pic in May 1983 at Chino. Sometimes I forget the 1980s were actually a long time ago now... Seems like last week to me!

[JohnC]

Sabre's do look sexy in bare metal:


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17394463/Skyfair%2004.jpg



https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17394463/Skyfair%2002.jpg

[Bomber_12th]

Dang, I wonder what happened to this one. Shot this pic in May 1983 at Chino. Sometimes I forget the 1980s were actually a long time ago now... Seems like last week to me!

Paul, that is the F-86F N86F (another photo here, from the same time period of your picture: http://www.airliners.net/photo/North-American-F-86F/2241619/L/)

It is the same one that now looks like this: https://www.flickr.com/photos/75957202@N07/17863835392/sizes/l Last owned by Tom Wood (who passed away several years ago), it hasn't flown for a few years now.

Note that with the subject of this thread, it is the only flying F-86A - there are of course many other F-86's flying (a number of which I shared links of above), but they are of different later makes/variants, and a good number of them are also Canadair-manufactured. The F-86A N48178, the subject of this thread, also holds the title as the world's oldest flying jet (all of the Meteors/Vampires/Venoms flying were built after this particular aircraft). Of course with the Planes of Fame YP-59 being restored to fly, as well as the Flying Heritage Collection's original Me-262 (which should be flying next year), that title won't be held for much longer.

[jankees]

cool to hear there will be a Minuteman flying!

here's my version for now:
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww230/jcblom60/Belgie/ss2528.jpg (http://s722.photobucket.com/user/jcblom60/media/Belgie/ss2528.jpg.html)

and I admit, ctrl-E would be nice, I tried to take a flight the other day, but couldn't get it started without the manual...which I couldn't find...

[Bomber_12th]

Yeah, the "Minute Men" F-86 should have been flying by now - it was scheduled to attend the Reno Air Races this year, for the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, but some mechanical items kept it from reaching that goal.

If you go through this thread, there are many photos of the aircraft being paint-stripped, polished, and painted in the "Minute Men" markings (as well as other work), between 2008 and 2013: http://www.classicjets.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1154&start=60
(http://www.classicjets.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1154&start=60)
Video/screen captures from an engine test run in 2012:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsurL3uxmYA&feature=youtu.be

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsurL3uxmYA&feature=youtu.be)http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th105/f86_1_zpswxm9bgrg.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th105/f86_1_zpswxm9bgrg.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th105/maxresdefaultf86_zpsjdhy2t8c.jpg (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th105/maxresdefaultf86_zpsjdhy2t8c.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Bomber_12th105/f86_3_zpsl5gnuvke.jpg

(http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Bomber_12th105/f86_3_zpsl5gnuvke.jpg.html)http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/jdavidboyd/null_zps814b3f43.jpg (http://s134.photobucket.com/user/jdavidboyd/media/null_zps814b3f43.jpg.html)

[Pips]

It's not an 'A', but Australia's version (improved) of the F-86 'F'.

It's the CAC CA-27 Sabre.

It's been flying regularly at Temora Aviation Museum http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/aircraft_colection/sabre/index.html since restoration was completed in 2009. It's also worthy of having a skin done. And it sounds simply awesome when performing low passes!

[SH427]

Had the pleasure of meeting Paul Wood once at the Rockford Airshow, which I've attended 3-4 years in a row, minus that one year where it wasn't held because budget. The -86 was scheduled to perform this last time but it wasn't ready I guess. Nothing more beautiful than a F-86 zipping around. Got to see a T-33 and Mig-17 go at it earlier in the day instead.

[Mach3DS]

The spit shine has started....still tweaking alphas and specs...but she's fresh out of the paint hangar...time for some maintenance to reduce that shine.....metal effects...here we come!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/669/22023069119_f2c37fbd51_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/720/22022188788_a39645aa29_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/744/22021893510_f5f7dbea2b_o.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/565/22209970465_9e8fea0621_o.jpg

[Mach3DS]

And yes currently it's too bright...noted already... ;)

[falcon409]

One more that I see often: NX4689H at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison, Texas, near Dallas. I've never seen it fly but it looks like it could.
Glenn
Glenn, I think that might be the Airplane that sat in our hangar at North Texas Regional for several years. I don't have the specifics on what caused the engine problems but I do remember the boss telling me it was awaiting an engine change. Beautiful airplane but all it was doing was sitting in a corner in the hangar gathering dust. It was Cavenaughs' Jet for sure. . .it was during the time we were restoring their P-51.