North American F-86 Sabre by Stewart Wilson

This Aviation Notebook covers the development of the Sabre and all its many variants including those built in Australia and Canada plus the FJ Fury naval versions. A serial numbers listing is included along with a summary of all operators.

The key to greatness in any aircraft design seems to lie in its ability to be 'the right aircraft at the right time', and the North American F-86 Sabre jet fighter certainly was, blooded in the Korean War and serving with distinction with the air forces of no fewer than 38 nations.

Regarded by many as the greatest fighter of the 1950s, the Sabre was far in advance of the jet fighters which immediately preceded it and was an outstanding commercial success with nearly 9,000 built in five countries in nine major variants to fill day fighter, all weather fighter and fighter-bomber roles. Add the more than 1,100 Fury naval fighter variants which were produced and the result is a classic of its time.