restored
18 AH January 2016
paint scheme to honor Spink,
who had been invited to
display the airplane at the
annual 2011 Tiger Meet
at Cambrai. At the end
WN\PMÆaQVO[MI[WV
the Sabre was grounded at
Duxford while its J47-
engine underwent a major
overhaul in the U.S. The
jet’s entire rear fuselage can
be removed from a joint just
aft of the wing, allowing the
power plant to be swapped
quickly with relatively basic
tools. Due to the engine’s
rarity, however, the rebuild
took some time—not until
January 2013 was it returned
to Duxford, where successful
ground runs took place the
following month.
)[IÅZ[\OMVMZI\QWV;IJZM
the F-86A is in many respects
]VZMÅVMLIVL]VLMZXW_MZML
compared to later variants.
The engineering team that
looked after the airplane
mentioned how surprisingQ\_I[\WÅVLUIVa[UITT
components on the F-86A
that are also used on piston-
engine North American T-
trainers. The J47 turbojet,
rated at 5,200 pounds of
thrust, was very simple in
design, with far fewer mov-
ing parts than 1940s piston
engines, and it gained a repu-
tation for reliability.
Later variants were
given much more powerful
engines and hydraulically
powered controls. On the
other hand, the F-86A can be
ÆW_VUIV]ITTaQV\PMM^MV\
of a hy drau lic failure. The
XZQUIZaÆQOP\KWV\ZWT[IZM
mechanical, with conven-
tional control wires, but the
aircraft does have a hydraulic
boost system to help reducestick forces for the ailerons
and elevators.
The Sabre’s sweptwing
design and the trail from its
very smoky engine make for
a visually pleasing aircraft
\PI\KIVJMÆW_VKWV[MZ^I-
tively, yet still look impres-
sive. The airplane also has
an adjustable horizontal
stabilizer, leading-edge wing
slats and fuselage speed
brakes. Located on either
side of the rear fuselage, the
speed brakes comprise a
PQVOMLXIVMTÅ`ML\WI[QVOTM
hydraulic ram that opens the
panel down and forward into
\PMIQZÆW_KWV\ZWTTMLJaI
switch on top of the throttle.
“While many display pilots
OM\\PMWXXWZ\]VQ\a\WÆa\PM
popular warbirds such as a"the really
great news
is that the
aircraft will
be kept flying
and is not to
become a
ground-bound
museum piece.”local attraction The
Sabre flies over the English
countryside at 7,000 feet.fond farewell Linney
(below) boards the F-86A at
Aircraft Restoration's hangar.;XQ\ÅZMWZ8 \PMWXXWZ-
\]VQ\a\WÆa[]KPIZIZMRM\
is totally unique, and I have
been so privileged to have
had that opportunity,” Mark
Linney remarked as the
F-86A returned to its land
of origin. “The Sabre was
a hugely important iconic
IQZKZIN\_PQKPÅZ[\ÆM_I\I
time when aircraft develop-
ment was advancing with
technological and design
improvements being made
at an amazing rate.
“The aircraft is certainly
going to its new owners with
all of our very best wishes,”
he added. “We will do what-
ever we can to ensure that
the new owner is helped with
training, support and our
fullest cooperation in trans-
ferring the operations of the
Sabre to the USA. The really
great news is that the aircraft
_QTTJMSMX\ÆaQVOIVLQ[VW\
to become a ground-bound
museum piece.”
4QVVMa¼[ÅVIT[WZ\QMQV\PM
Sabre, at Duxford on June
! _I[ILMUWÆQOP\
for the new owner, John
Swartz of Afton, Okla. With
\PI\ÆQOP\WXMZI\QWV[NWZ
Golden Apple ceased, mark-
ing the end of an era in the
UK for this much-loved jet.
Disassembled and shipped to
Heritage Aero in Rockford,
Ill., the Sabre was thoroughly
inspected and reassem-
bled by Heritage owner
+TQٺ?QTM_[SQ)T\PW]OPQ\
did not make its intended
debut at the Experimental
Aircraft Association’s 2015
AirVenture in July, Swartz
and Willewski—both EAA
members—will no doubt
see to it that it does not miss
the show in 2016. The reas-
sembled Sabre was slated to
]VLMZOWQ\[ÅZ[\\I`Q\M[\[QV
late September 2015.