North American F-86H Sabre

The F-86H was the last of the non-radar equipped, day-fighter Sabres and was intended for use as a fighter-bomber capable of dropping nuclear weapons.  Numerous changes were made to the basic F-86 design to create the H model including; an enlarged fuselage to accommodate a bigger engine, a revised canopy design, and the replacement of the standard six .50 caliber machine guns with four 20mm cannons.  In the end the F-86H was the best performing version of the Sabre and could fly faster, higher, and farther than any of the other variants.  Unfortunately, by the time the H model was introduced other even newer designs were doing the same things even better and the F-86H only served in front line units between 1954 and 1958.  It did, however continue in service with the Air National Guard into the 1970s.  Ex-Air Force F-86Hs were also used as adversary aircraft by the U.S. Navy’s Top Gun school into the late 1970s.

Service History

Manufactured by North American Aviation, Columbus, Ohio and delivered to the U.S. Air Force on October 21, 1955.

Manufacturer
North American

Markings
474^th Fighter Bomber Wing, Clovis AFB, New Mexico, 1954

Designation
F-86H

Serial Number
53-1525