This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Tue May 10, 2011 12:28 pm
Tue May 10, 2011 1:09 pm
Wow, a Duxford standby now being sold. Im sure to make the way for something new.
Tue May 10, 2011 2:16 pm
Interesting deal! Maybe P.A. will buy her and bring her home to KPAE again.
Tue May 10, 2011 2:36 pm
Wasn't this aircraft based in Mojave for some time? I remember a white A-model with a blue stripe.
Tue May 10, 2011 3:03 pm
bdk wrote:Wasn't this aircraft based in Mojave for some time? I remember a white A-model with a blue stripe.
IIRC this one was white with a red stripe but was flown out of Mojave at some point.
Blue stripes were Flight Systems scheme IIRC.
Maybe just my memory fading.
Tue May 10, 2011 5:26 pm
I recall it even said "F-86A" inside the stripe by the nose. Maybe it was a red stripe. I remember seeing the Flight Systems aircraft but that was much later.
Tue May 10, 2011 6:42 pm
Back in the early days Ben flew (as N68388) it in a full blown disco theme, overall white with (as I recall) yellow, Orange, and an odd ruddy brownish set of stripes that ran the full length of the fuselage then it went into Korean War markings with Yellow and Black fuselage stripes, I don't think it was @ Mojave unless Ben contracted it out for some reason.
Tue May 10, 2011 6:46 pm
The Inspector wrote:Back in the early days Ben flew (as N68388) it in a full blown disco theme, overall white with (as I recall) yellow, Orange, and an odd ruddy brownish set of stripes that ran the full length of the fuselage then it went into Korean War markings with Yellow and Black fuselage stripes, I don't think it was @ Mojave unless Ben contracted it out for some reason.
I think the rainbow stripe is what I was thinking of.
I thought it raced in the Mojave Jet races they had but maybe it was another Sabre I'm thinking of.
Tue May 10, 2011 7:24 pm
This one appears to be a really nice airplane but I think it is probably a far cry from being worth a million dollars!
Tue May 10, 2011 8:12 pm
It is the 8th F-86A-5-NA built, making it the 8th production airframe after the few XP-airframes. c/n 151-4547 and I believe the only A model, and the oldest F-86 still flying.
Ben could have raced it @ Mojave as to this day, he and Chuck Lyford are still very very close friends and flying buddies.
Wed May 11, 2011 2:26 am
48-178 was built as one of an early block -5 spec and was upgraded to -7 specifications and was assigned to a series of squadrons, USAF and ANG. Military highlights include defending Los Alamos from the perceived Soviet bomber threat, service with the Hat in the Ring Squadron and as the first Sabre flown by multi-war ace Gen. Robin Olds who signed posters of her at Duxford along with her last military pilot Major Archie Nogle. Its civil career is due to Ben Hall of Seattle who personally restored her to flying condition in the 1970s after buying her from a Fresno reclamation yard following a tip off by photographer Jim Larsen. Ben spent 10,000 hours on the project and has been known to describe 178 as the love of his life. Engineering work was carried out in 1990/91 for Golden Apple at Fort Wayne Air Service (John and Dan Dilley) with the help of the USAF Museum at Wright Patterson, particularly in restoring the cockpit to stock original condition. Engine work has been by Aero-Turbine of Stockton, California (Doug Clayton & Al Jolley). One in the UK in 1991 48-178 was cared for initially by Jet Heritage, then b the Old Flying Machine Company at Duxford and for the last 10 years by the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford (John Romain, Colin Swann, R Mitchell, J Kennedy, Andy Foster). Engineering quality is continually enhanced and in 19 years of flying in the UK and Europe, only 5 shows have been missed due to unserviceablity. As well as on the covers of the magazines over many years she is also on series. She is unique, the world’s only airworthy “A” model Sabre and probably the world’s oldest airworthy jet aircraft.
Wed May 11, 2011 8:38 am
Two of the Sabers that raced at Mojave were Leroy Penhall's birds. Leroy's was white with red stripes, Gary Levitz's was yellow with an orange stripe. The third was one of the Flight Systems birds (now Tracor, I believe). Ben flew a routine or two at the Reno races, but his plane was never raced at Mojave.
A few years back Hacker and I were over at Lyford's house with Ben Hall. Ben brought his 'photo album' of the F-86 restoration. It really was cool looking at the 'progress' over the entire length of the restoration. Ben said at one time he offered the seat to Bob Love to do an aerobatic routine in, and Love turned him down because the plane was 'too rare'. But I recall watching Ben fly several routines in it over the years.
I know for a period of time in the early '80's the Saber shared the same hanger at KPAE with Miss America.
Wed May 11, 2011 10:20 am
Wed May 11, 2011 10:58 am
That's it! I wonder if I may have seen it at Edwards rather than Mojave?
Wed May 11, 2011 11:27 am
Did that airplane have a "bench" seat in it at one time. Ejection seat out. I swear I saw a photo of it in the white/orange with 2 helmets in the cockpit once back in the oldendays.........
Mark H
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