Aircraft

MAPS AIR MUSEUM IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF AKRON-CANTON AIRPORT (CAK), IN GREEN, OH

North American F-86D/L Sabre

03 February 2008 - a pair of F-86L underwing tanks has been donated to MAPS. Photo © James Kohan

24 November 2007- the F-86L inside the large aircraft hangar. Guided tours abound! Photo © James Kohan

12 April 2007 - F-86L on it's cradle on the MAPS ramp. Photo © James Kohan

3 August 2007 - F-86L with starboard (right) wing attached. y: Verdana"> Photo © James Kohan

22 September 2007 - port (left) wing attached, lifting off cradle. Photo © James Kohan

22 September 2007 - locking nose gear down. Photo © James Kohan

22 September 2007 - cradle dismantled. Photo © James Kohan

Aircraft Background:
Formerly assigned to the Florida Military Aviation Museum at Clearwater-St. Petersburg Airport, when the museum closed the aircraft were removed from the facility and placed in outside storage. Officially a part of the U.S. Air Force Museum, Wright Patterson AFB collection, the F-86L has just been placed on indefinite loan to MAPS Air Museum for restoration purposes.

Aircraft's History:
Based on the famed F-86A that battled theBased on the famed F-86A that battled the Mig-15 over Korea's skies, the F-86D was designed as an all-weather interceptor to combat enemy air attack. While based on the F-86A, by the time the D model was done being built, the only commonality between it and other models of the F-86 was the wing. There were several significant firsts for the F-86D; it was the first Air Force fighter to 'banish' guns and rely on an all rocket armament, and it was the first single seat, radar equipped all weather interceptor, where the pilot both flew the aircraft and operated the radar unit. Up to this point, all-weather interceptors all carried a RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) (if flying with the Navy) or WSO (Weapon System Officer) (if flying with the Air Force) to handle the radar / targeting, while the pilot flew the aircraft.

Photos from the F-86 Recovery in Florida

Photos from the F-86 arrival @ MAPS>

Learn more about the 2.75" FFAR Rocket

Learn more about the SAGE radar guidance system (coming soon)"Trebuchet MS">Specifications:
Span: 37 ft. 1 in.
Length: 40 ft. 4 in.
Height: 15 ft.
Weight: 19,975 lbs. max.
Armament: 24 2.75" Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR)
Engine: General Electric J47 with 7,650 lbs thrust
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 715 mph.
Cruising speed: 550 mph.
Range: 800 miles
Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft.
Crew Chief's Update (Restoration Progress):
02/03/2008 A set of underwing fuel tanks has been 02/03/2008 A set of underwing fuel tanks has been donated to the Museum, and are sitting underneath the aircraft in the large hangar.

11/24/2007 The F-86L was gingerly moved into the large hangar.

09/22/2007 Today the port (left) wing was attached, the gears locked down, and the F-86 was removed from its cradle and is now resting on its landing gear! See photos above.-align: justify"> 08/03/2007 After much work and finagling, the F-86 crew was able to reattach the starboard (right) wing of the F-86D. After the Collings Foundation visit is over and our upcoming off-site displays are done, work will focus on the port (left) wing.

05/30/2007 Work continues on the canopy and vertical stabilizers, and the horizontal stabilizers have been brought into the restoration building to start work. The crew did a polishing test on a section of the vertical stabilizer to see how well it could be polished out, and were pleasantly surprised at the results.
04/28/2007 The canopy and windscreen have been removed for cleaning and to allow another F-86D restorer to examine construction for his fuselage.

04/13/2007 We have stripped the paint from the vertical tail and are beginning the polishing process. In operational use the only paint used on the "Dog" was Squadron colors and Insignia. [webmasters note: previous owner had painted the F86D in a metallic silver finish]. We are also in the process of getting the main wheels back on the landing gear, so when the NE Ohio weather begins to cooperate we will install the wings and set her on her wheels.
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