North American F-86E Sabre – 116th FIS, 81st FIW, USAFE, Suffolk 1951

Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72 scale AA35802: North American F-86E Sabre of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 81st Fighter Interceptor Wing USAF based at Shepherds Grove, Suffolk, England in 1951. Originally a limited Edition of only 2,420 pieces; this has had the certificate removed and a sticker placed on the outer box edge. The model is new, with excellent markings and detail, complete with optional undercarriage and airbrake positions, sliding canopy and stand. Has to be seen to be appreciated and now hard to find.

Length  6.75 inches   Wingspan 6.25 inches

The North American F-86 Sabre (sometimes called the Sabrejet) was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America’s first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly winged Soviet MiG-15 in high-speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War. Considered one of the best and most important fighter aircraft in the Korean War, the F-86 is also rated highly in comparison with fighters of other eras. Although it was developed in the late 1940s and was outdated by the end of the 1950s, the Sabre proved versatile and adaptable, and continued as a front-line fighter in numerous air forces until the last active operational examples were retired by the Bolivian Air Force in 1994.

Its success led to an extended production run of more than 7,800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956, in the United States, Japan and Italy. Variants were built in Canada and Australia. The Canadair Sabre added another 1,815 airframes, and the significantly redesigned CAC Sabre (sometimes known as the Avon Sabre or CAC CA-27), had a production run of 112. It was by far the most-produced Western jet fighter, with total production of all variants at 9,860 units.