Not Something you see everyday............
Discussion
Some pics taken at IWM Duxford on 13 May. The Lotus Renault team were using the main runway for testing. The two 'planes treated us to a 15 minute impromptu display. I had an American friend with me and he was mightily impressed.
Photo of the F-86a here...............still figuring out this upload business.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grumpyd5fab/
Photo of the F-86a here...............still figuring out this upload business.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grumpyd5fab/
We were certainly surpised to see them flying, but that's part of the beauty of Duxford; anything can happen. My friend from Texas had never seen either type flying before so it was a real treat for him. A few days earlier we'd seen a B-52 over north Lincoln, (coming out of Waddington, I think), and that was the first of that type he seen flying. He's now convinced that the UK is the best place in the world to see proper aircraft in action.
The sabre was flown by Air Marshall "Cliff" Spink - his name's on the fuselage. He's now retired but seems to have flown lots of interesting stuff and also displays a Spitfire, it seems. Tiger markings on the Sabre relate to his old squadron. It's all on Google if you're interested. Whilst taxiing out the Sabre seemed to suffer a jammed nosewheel - angled to port. Two ground crew were called up and they proceeded to wrestle and kick the offending wheel into the "ahead" position and off he went. All seemed pretty crude but the, the F-86a is one of the last of the simple jets and I have to believe they know what they're doing.
Edited to add : My frien's uncle, Ralph Saltsman, was Station Commander at Rougham during WWII and flew a B-17 until he was shot down over France, (Evreux area), and taken prisoner. He went on to fly P-51's in Korea. His aircraft is featured in one of the Tamiya 1/48 kits - the one with the sharks teeth nose art. - so my friend has more than a passing interest in the UK and proper aircraft.
The sabre was flown by Air Marshall "Cliff" Spink - his name's on the fuselage. He's now retired but seems to have flown lots of interesting stuff and also displays a Spitfire, it seems. Tiger markings on the Sabre relate to his old squadron. It's all on Google if you're interested. Whilst taxiing out the Sabre seemed to suffer a jammed nosewheel - angled to port. Two ground crew were called up and they proceeded to wrestle and kick the offending wheel into the "ahead" position and off he went. All seemed pretty crude but the, the F-86a is one of the last of the simple jets and I have to believe they know what they're doing.
Edited to add : My frien's uncle, Ralph Saltsman, was Station Commander at Rougham during WWII and flew a B-17 until he was shot down over France, (Evreux area), and taken prisoner. He went on to fly P-51's in Korea. His aircraft is featured in one of the Tamiya 1/48 kits - the one with the sharks teeth nose art. - so my friend has more than a passing interest in the UK and proper aircraft.
Edited by Skodaku on Thursday 26th May 14:05
Lurking Lawyer said:
Did Sabres ever see combat against prop aircraft? I suppose there's a good chance they did in Korea.
Frederick 'Boots' Blesse downed a Lavochkin La-9 in Korea and went on to write the tactical manual 'No Guts No Glory'Mind you this link has it as a Yak: http://sabre-pilots.org/classics/v81boots.htm
ETA: Woo, here's a PDF: www.simhq.com/_air/PDF/NGNG.pdf
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 26th May 14:31
Skodaku said:
The sabre was flown by Air Marshall "Cliff" Spink - his name's on the fuselage. He's now retired but seems to have flown lots of interesting stuff and also displays a Spitfire, it seems. Tiger markings on the Sabre relate to his old squadron. It's all on Google if you're interested. Whilst taxiing out the Sabre seemed to suffer a jammed nosewheel - angled to port. Two ground crew were called up and they proceeded to wrestle and kick the offending wheel into the "ahead" position and off he went. All seemed pretty crude but the, the F-86a is one of the last of the simple jets and I have to believe they know what they're doing.
The tiger markings are for the tiger meet it attended in Cambrai a week or two ago Edited by Skodaku on Thursday 26th May 14:05
Tango13 said:
Eric Mc said:
F-86 didn't just fight in Korea. I am pretty sure Pakistani Sabres were used against India.
They were used against the Indian Air Force and IIRC they got their arses handed to them by the Indian pilots who were flying Folland Gnats.lloyd h said:
The tiger markings are for the tiger meet it attended in Cambrai a week or two ago
Many thanks for that; it makes sense. The reference to his old Squadron, and hence the "Tiger" markings were given to me by someone who "knows" and that also made sense. However, as is so often the case, the man who "knew" obviously didn't know the real reason. I stand corrected. Thank you.Is this F-86 registered G-SABR or is there another one lurking around, (unlikely as that seems) ?
Skodaku said:
Many thanks for that; it makes sense. The reference to his old Squadron, and hence the "Tiger" markings were given to me by someone who "knows" and that also made sense. However, as is so often the case, the man who "knew" obviously didn't know the real reason. I stand corrected. Thank you.
Is this F-86 registered G-SABR or is there another one lurking around, (unlikely as that seems) ?
Yeah it is registered as G-SABR Is this F-86 registered G-SABR or is there another one lurking around, (unlikely as that seems) ?
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