64 AIR CLASSICS/August 2022
jet fighter like the Sabre. You just don’t
take anything for granted. As we noted,
the restoration of 52-5116 greatly
modernized the airframe, instruments,
and systems.- Upgrades include an engine with
less than 17-hours run-time since
overall, - Completely strip, inside and out,
every bit of old paint, - Glass cockpit,
- All engine accessories have been
removed, rebuilt, and reinstalled, - A brand-new fuselage centerline
internal fuel tank has been
manufactured, installed, and tested, - Landing gear has been totally
rebuilt, - Totally revamped hydraulic system
installed, - Both wings have leading edges and
slats installed following a thorough
inspection and maintenance
process, - New Martin Baker Mk. 10 rocket-
style ejection seat has replaced
previous seat. Distance between
seat and panel increased,- Digital autopilot,
GPS
- Digital autopilot,
three landing
circuits. There
is no chart to
plan this sort
of flight so I do
some estimates
based on the
T-33 I have
been flying.
Full internal is
around 2800
pounds of Jet
A and I should
taxi in with
1000 pounds.
There are two
long runways
and the weather
meets my
personal mini-
mums for such
flights — ceiling
and visibility
unlimited.”
Doug’s basic
checklist gives us
an idea on how to
approach an early
generationFrom the very start of the restoration, Doug knew he wanted to finish the Sabre in
McConnell’s markings which is now registered as NX286CF.Doug looping the Sabre. The aerial photos were taken from an
S-211 flown by Scott Farnsworth.MiG Mad Mavis was F-86F-10-NA 51-12940
flown by Lt. Col. George Ruddell, who was
the 39th FIS’s commanding officer.