North American F-86D Sabre

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_...an_F-86D_Sabre

The North American F-86D Sabre (sometimes called the "Sabre Dog" or "Dog Sabre"
was a transonic jet all-weather interceptor of the United States Air Force and
others. Based on North American's F-86 Sabre day fighter, the F-86D had only 25
percent commonality with other Sabre variants, with a larger fuselage, larger
afterburner engine, and a distinctive nose radome.

The YF-95 was a development of the F-86 Sabre, the first aircraft designed
around the new 2.75-inch (70 mm) "Mighty Mouse" Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
(FFAR). Begun in March 1949, the unarmed prototype, 50-577, first flew on 22
December 1949, piloted by North American test pilot George Welch and was the
first U.S. Air Force night fighter design with only a single crewman and a
single engine, a J47-GE-17 with afterburner rated at 5,425 lbf (24.1 kN) static
thrust. Gun armament was eliminated in favor of a retractable under-fuselage
tray carrying 24 unguided Mk. 4 rockets, then considered a more effective weapon
against enemy bombers than a barrage of cannon fire. A second prototype, 50-578,
was also built, but the YF-95 nomenclature was short-lived as the design was
subsequently redesignated YF-86D.

The fuselage was wider and the airframe length increased to 40 ft 4 in (12.29
m), with a clamshell canopy, enlarged tail surfaces and AN/APG-36 all-weather
radar fitted in a radome in the nose, above the intake. Later models of the
F-86D received an uprated J-47-GE-33 engine rated at 5,550 lbf (24.7 kN) (from
the F-86D-45 production blocks onward). A total of 2,504 D-models were built.

Role Fighter interceptor
Manufacturer North American Aviation
First flight 22 December 1949,
67 years ago
Primary users United States Air Force
Italian Air Force
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
Venezuelan Air Force
Number built 2,847
Unit cost $343,839 (F-86D)
Developed from North American F-86 Sabre

On 18 November 1952, F-86D, 51-2945, set a speed record of 698.505 mph (1,124.1
km/h). Captain J. Slade Nash flew over a three km (1.8 mi.) course at the Salton
Sea in southern California at a height of only 125 ft (38 m). Another F-86D
broke this world record on 16 July 1953, when Lieutenant Colonel William F.
Barns, flying F-86D 51-6145, in the same path of the previous flight, achieved
715.697 mph (1,151.8 km/h).

Specifications (F-86D-40-NA)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.27 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 1.5 in (11.31 m)
Height: 15 ft in (4.57 m)
Empty weight: 13,518 lb (6,132 kg)
Gross weight: 19,975 lb (9,060 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × General Electric J47-GE-17B, 5,425 lbf (24.1 kN)dry, 7,500 lbf
(33.4 kN) with afterburner

Performance
Maximum speed: 693 mph (1,115 km/h)
Maximum speed: Mach .91
Range: 330 miles (531 km)
Service ceiling: 49,750 ft (15,163 m)
Rate of climb: 12,150 ft/min (61.7 m/s)

Armament
24 × 2.75 in (70 mm) Mighty Mouse FFAR rockets in ventral tray






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