Hobby Master HA4319 | Sabre Mk.6 (F-86F-40) JA-344, JG 71 "Richthofen", Germany, 1961

General Background:

The North American F-86 Sabre was manufactured from 1949 – 1956 and was America’s first swept-wing fighter. As well as being built in the U.S. variants were built in Canada and Australia bringing the total of all variants manufactured to 9,860 units. During the Korean War the Sabre arrived to take on the other swept-wing aircraft of the conflict, the MiG-15 Fagot. The Americans claim they shot down 792 MiGs while only losing 78 Sabres, a 10:1 victory ratio which is greatly disputed.

The Aircraft:

As West Germany's first operational jet fighter unit, JG 71 was formed in June 1959 and equipped with 50 Canadair Sabre Mk.6s. Canadair Sabre Mk. 6 JG+344 MSN 1757 from JG 71, 2 Staffel was lost on a training flight. On August 7, 1963 JG+344, piloted by Feldwebel Eckhard Wendt, was lost when it crashed on a target range at Aurich-Brockzetel. The pilot as well as 5 people on the ground were killed. In 1963 the unit moved to Wittmundhafen AB and re-equipped with the F-104, an aircraft Erich Hartmann disliked.

F-86 Sabre Mk. 6 Specifications
Manufacturer – North American and built under license by Canadair Canada
Crew – 1
Dimensions
Length – 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
Wingspan – 37 ft 11.5 in (11.57 m)
Height – 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m)
Weight
Empty – 10,618 lb (4,818 kg)
Gross – 14,613 lb (6,634 kg)
Performance
Powerplant – Orenda series 14 turbo-jet @ 7,275 lb (3,302 kg) thrust
Speed
Maximum - 606 mph (975 km/h)
Cruise – 489 mph (787 km/h)
Range – 1,486 miles (2,391 km)
Armament 6 X .50 cal machine guns
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Provisions for tanks, bombs and unguided rockets