North American FJ-4B (AF-1E) Fury

A picture of the North American FJ-4B Fury

The North American Fury is a navalized version of the F-86 Sabre. The FJ-4B version of the Fury was designed in 1956 specifically to provide the U.S. Navy with a nuclear strike aircraft. Equipped with the Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) computer and carrying one nuclear weapon on the inboard left wing the FJ-4B served until the early 1960s when most were phased out of service. A total of 222 FJ-4B Furies were built.

Service History

This Fury, Bureau Number 139531 is the first FJ-4B built and served as the prototype. It was built by North American Aviation and was officially delivered to the Navy on December 14, 1956 although its first flight was on December 3, 1956.

December 1956 Research and Development, Naval Air Station Columbus, Ohio.

February 1960 Overhaul and Repair, Bureau of Weapons, Naval Air Station Alameda, California.

Wingspan	39 ft 1 in.
Length	36 ft 4 in.
Height	13 ft 11 in.
Weight	23,700 lbs (loaded)
Maximum Speed	680 MPH
Service Ceiling	46,800 ft
Range	2,020 miles
Engine	One Wright J-65-W-16A turbojet with 7,700 pounds thrust
Crew	1

Manufacturer
North American

Markings
Prototype flight testing, Naval Air Station Columbus, Ohio, 1956

Designation
FJ-4B

Serial Number
139531

September 1961 Naval Air Reserve, Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois.

December 1962 Redesignated AF-1E.

October 1963 Naval Air Reserve, Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia.

April 1965 Placed in storage at Naval Air Station Glynco, Georgia.

May 1978 Loaned to Pima Air & Space Museum by the National Naval Aviation Museum.