North American F-86D/K/L (Sabre Dog)

History of the North American F-86D/K/L (Saber Dog)

The F-86D "Sabre Dog" (also known as "Dog Sabre") belongs to the family of single-seat, single-engine F-86 "Sabre" jet fighters that made their war debut in Korea (1950-1953). The Model D became a major modification of the production A-model airframe to produce an effective all-weather radar interceptor to rapidly counter the growing threat of Soviet bombers.

The result is an aircraft that shares no more than 25% with its sister aircraft, as the Sabre Dog adopts a nose cone (which hides its radar fit) and a larger fuselage, a new, more powerful afterburner Turbojet and increased tail surface. All of this resulted in an expanded mission range for the aircraft, with superior anti-bomber firepower, larger interior volume, better performance, and improved control.

The first flight in prototype form was recorded on December 22, 1949, with a total production of 2,847 aircraft. Such was the importance of this type that it was also used by many NATO players during the Cold War (1947-1991). The final saber dog was completed in September 1953.

Saber Dog began life with the development of the "YF-95A", with two prototypes built to standard (production form would become "F-95") to justify the design. North American engineers redesigned the A-model's nose-mounted air intakes to better position the radome and intended radar unit in front of the pilot's position.

Meanwhile, the Hughes Fire Control System (FCS) is attached to a retractable ventral (belly) missile pack that carries no less than 24 x 2.75 in (70 mm) "Mighty Mouse" air-to-air fold Tail, containing airborne rockets (FFARs): The A-fighter's six machine guns were thus completely removed - these guns were of little value in a high-speed, high-altitude interception role.

In this single-crew arrangement, the FCS will guide the aircraft and pilot to within 500 yards of the target, before which the ventral missile group will automatically lower and fire the missile without direct pilot control. This was unlike other interceptors of the era, which often had a second crew member for radar directional missions.

Aside from this particular feature, the resulting Saber Dog retains much of the form and function of the original classic Saber fighter. Its nose-mounted oval air intake sucks in a single turbojet unit behind the pilot, which exits through a single port under the tail at the very end of the fuselage. The pilot maintains his command position behind the short nose section and under a lightly framed transparent canopy.

The rear wing consists of a vertical fin set low in the horizontal plane, all of which are swept back along their leading and trailing edges. The main aircraft is mounted low on the side of the fuselage and swept back for the high-speed flight envelope. For ground operations, there is a conventional retractable and wheeled tricycle undercarriage.

Each wing supports an optional fuel tank to increase the operational range required for the interceptor type.

The engine of choice was a General Electric J47-GE-17B afterburner turbojet with 7,500 lbs of thrust. Top speed reaches 715 mph and has a range of 330 miles. The plane reportedly had a service ceiling of nearly 50,000 feet and a climb rate of 12,150 feet per minute.

The YF-95A developed was eventually renamed "YF-86A" and put into production as "F-86D", after which 2,504 prototypes were built to the final standard. The "F-86G" designation was briefly used to cover aircraft with improved engines and different equipment, which were completed under the designation F-86D (406 build).

The D-type was considered ideal for export, especially to NATO members throughout Europe, so the export-oriented "F-86K" was born, first demonstrated under the development code "YF-96K" Own. These saber dogs lost the ventral Mighty Mouse missile pack, replaced by a 4 x 20mm M24A1 automatic cannon attached to an APG-37 series radar unit.

While North America contributed 120 to the brand's production, Italian Fiat delivered about 221 by the end of the year.

The subsequent "F-86L" Sabre Dog was a production F-86D with brand new electronics and a revised instrument panel. The leading edge of the main-wing aircraft has also been modified and now has an extended wingtip section. Inside, a more powerful motor was installed to improve performance.

Some 981 conversions ended up building to this standard.

There are numerous operators worldwide, Denmark received a stockpile of former USAF-D models in the late 1950s. France briefly operated FIAT-made Sabre Dogs in the late 1950s. The West German Air Force took over 88 former USAF Ks and used them from mid-1957 to mid-1958. Another former US Air Force F086D operator became Greece, which took over an inventory of 35 aircraft that remained available until 1969.

In 1970, six K aircraft were delivered to the Honduran Air Force.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force operated 122 ex-US Air Force D models between 1958 and 1961. The Dutch received 57 K-model Saber Dogs from the US, with an additional six from FIAT. From 1955 to 1956, Norway used a total of 60 K-models from the United States. The Philippine Air Force received 20 D models, while the South Korean Air Force received 40 of the same model starting in June 1955.

20 L models entered Thailand, 32 F models showed up in Venezuela, and another 79 K models (made by Fiat) were passed on in time from West Germany. Yugoslavia received 120 D models, which were still active from 1961 to 1974.

The USAF discontinued the Model D in June 1961 as newer and better interception options were available by then.

Specification

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