"My God, we simply have to figure a way out of this situation. There's no point in talking about 'winning' a nuclear war."
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower

The first swept-wing airplane in the U.S. fighter inventory, the F-86 scored consistent victories over Russian-built MiG fighters during the Korean War, accounting for a final kill ratio of 10-to-1. Interestingly, all 39 United Nations jet aces won their laurels in Sabres. Four models of the plane (F-86A, E, F and H) were designated day fighters or fighter bombers, while the F-86D, K and L versions were touted as all-weather interceptors. Successive models of the daylight versions - all designed to destroy hostile aircraft in flight or on the ground - were equipped with more powerful engines and armament systems that ranged from iron bombs and rockets to machine guns and cannon. The three interceptor versions, on the other hand, were equipped with black radome noses, replacing the yawning jet intakes of the other models.

The F-86F featured an uprated engine and a larger "6-3" wing without leading-edge slats. A total of 2,239 were built; North American model NA-172 (F-86F-1 through F-15 blocks), NA-176 (F-86F-20 and -25 blocks), NA-191 (F-86F-30 and −35 blocks), NA-193 (F-86F-26 block), NA-202 (F-86F-35 block), NA-227 (first two orders of F-86F-40 blocks comprising 280 aircraft that reverted to leading-edge wing slats of an improved design), NA-231 (70 in third F-40 block order), NA-238 (110 in fourth F-40 block order), and NA-256 (120 in final F-40 block order); 300 additional aircraft in this series assembled by Mitsubishi in Japan for Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Sabre Fs had much improved high-speed agility, coupled with a higher landing speed of over 145 mph (233 km/h). The F-35 block had provisions for a new operational role: the tactical nuclear attack utilizing newer, smaller, and lighter nuclear weapons ("second generation" nuclear ordnance). The F-40 had a new slatted wing with a slightly higher span, resulting in a slight decrease in speed, but also much better agility at both high and low speeds and a reduced landing speed of 124 mph (200 km/h). The USAF upgraded many previous F versions to the F-40 standard. One E and two Fs were modified for improved performance via rocket boost.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USAF North American F-86F-1-NA Sabre jet fighter that was piloted by Lt. James L Thompson, and nicknamed "The Huff", which was attached to the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, then deployed to Korea during 1951. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 6-3/4-inches
Wingspan: 6-1/4-inches

Release Date: September 2013

Historical Account: "Claims and Counter Claims" - By the end of hostilities, F-86 pilots were credited with shooting down 792 MiGs for a loss of only 78 Sabres, a victory ratio of 10:1. More recent research by Dorr, Lake and Thompson has claimed the actual ratio is closer to 2:1 The Soviets claimed to have downed over 600 Sabres, together with the Chinese claims, although these are thought by some to be an overcount as they cannot be reconciled with the 78 Sabres recorded as lost by the US. A recent RAND report made reference to "recent scholarship" of F-86 v MiG-15 combat over Korea and concluded that the actual kill:loss ratio for the F-86 was 1.8:1 overall, and likely closer to 1.3:1 against MiGs flown by Soviet pilots. Of the 41 American pilots who earned the designation of ace during the Korean war, all but one flew the F-86 Sabre, the exception being a Navy Vought F4U Corsair night fighter pilot.