North American F-86D "Sabre"

The North American F-86D "Sabre" was a supersonic interceptor weighing 19,975 pounds, armed with twenty-four 2.75 rockets, powered by a General Electric J47-GE-17B turbojet, with a maximum speed of 692 miles per hour, a range of 800 miles, a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, a crew of one, and 2,504 built. This version of the famous F-80 fighter was designed to destroy high-altitude enemy bombers carrying atomic warheads into American airspace. The F-86 was the first USAF plane to employ all rocket armament and set speed records in 1952 and 1953. The F-86D was used by the Louisiana Air National Guard from 1956-1960, and this aircraft, serial number 52-4168, is on loan from the United State Air Force Museum.

Arabi, Louisiana · United States