EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014: The F-86 Sabre First Flight Anniversary

Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

Today marks the anniversary of the first flight of the XF-86 prototype on October 1, 1947.  North American test pilot George S. Welch took off from Muroc Dry Lake (now Edwards AFB, CA) in Model NA-140/sn 45-59597 for the one hour, eighteen minute flight.  During the flight, Welch reported flight characteristics that indicate he approached and may have briefly exceeded the speed of sound at 35,000 feet.  The swept-wing design went on to become the U.S. Air Force's first-line fighter during the Korean War, gaining air superiority over the MiG-15s of the North Korean Air Force (through hard-fought air battles under difficult rules of engagement).  The first prototype, along with the next two, were destroyed by nuclear weapons tests over Nevada in 1952.  During the years following the Korean War period, the U.S. Navy and Marines adopted the FJ-2 through FJ-4 Fury series following the failure of the FJ-1 original Fury design.  Most models of the Sabre were phased out of active service by the 1960s, though some U.S. allies continued to use them.     

Both the F-86 Sabre and FJ-4B Fury were on display at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014.  The Aero Experience Team presents both aircraft here, and a sequence from the F-86 solo and formation flights during the afternoon airshows.