MAGAZINE 10 | (^71)
Manufacturer of F-86 jet fighters
- the rivals of the MiG-15 in the
sky of Korea War – North America
(later Rockwell) has also presented
a jet in the dispute for the US Air
Force and Navy contracts. Smaller
and fairly lighter than the Lockheed
model, the Sabreliner has flown
in 1958. It has swept-back wings,
narrow cabin with small triangular
windows and it used only two Pratt
& Whitney turbojets at both sides
of the fuselage, right after the wing
root. Extensively used in the US as
military trainer (T-39), it was appre-
ciated by pilots due to its acrobatic
capacities, inherited from the F-86.
It was offered to civilians in 1962,
beginning by Series 40. Capacity
was from 5 to 7 passengers, besides
the crew, in executive configuration.
Later, the civilian Sabreliner was
given improved versions: Lengthe-
ning and improvements in cabinlayout, larger number of windows
and new engines. The original 1962
model had maximum weight in
the range of 8 tons, cruiser speed
around 800 kilometers per hour and
range of 4,000 kilometers, with se-
ven occupants. Over 800 units were
manufactured, including civilian
and military versions until 1982.
Armed forces of México, Ecuador,
Bolivia and Argentina have used it
in VIP transport missions.DDD sceeeendddaaanttttt ff mmm aaaa a hherrro