Airworthy or soon to be F-86 Sabres and their status

Just wondering about some of the Sabres out there.

Wonder what the status is of the F-86A (based in Oklahoma??) that didn't quite make it to Oshkosh last year - does anyone know if it will be flying this year and will it make it to Oshkosh finally?

Last year there was hope for a 4-ship Sabre flight at Oshkosh that did not materialize. Hope that maybe Paul Keppeler's Sabre, Doug Matthews and the Skyblazers Sabre, the WHF F-86F and perhaps the F-86A may make Oshkosh in 2017 and make this happen. And speaking of Doug Matthews, does anyone have any information on his second Sabre under restoration in Titusville, FL? Any hope it may finally be ready to fly this year?

Looking forward to seeing some Sabres on the air show circuit this year.

[donno21]

Had the pleasure of meeting Steve Hinton from POF, he brought a Sabre to Nellis for the 21st and final reunion of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Assoc. I was invited to the reunion and parked and launched the Sabre and he did 2 fly by's for the 300 plus attendee's. I was compt for lodging and food. worked Sabre's for FSI for 11 years, mostly Dart Tow. There are several still flying.

[T33driver]

Just wondering about some of the Sabres out there.

Wonder what the status is of the F-86A (based in Oklahoma??) that didn't quite make it to Oshkosh last year - does anyone know if it will be flying this year and will it make it to Oshkosh finally?

Last year there was hope for a 4-ship Sabre flight at Oshkosh that did not materialize. Hope that maybe Paul Keppeler's Sabre, Doug Matthews and the Skyblazers Sabre, the WHF F-86F and perhaps the F-86A may make Oshkosh in 2017 and make this happen. And speaking of Doug Matthews, does anyone have any information on his second Sabre under restoration in Titusville, FL? Any hope it may finally be ready to fly this year?

Looking forward to seeing some Sabres on the air show circuit this year.

Hi Jim,

The F-86A is alive and well, just had some maintenance challenges last year but those issues are resolved and it is flying regularly. The owner is planning to bring it to Oshkosh this year. My Canadair Mk 6 is just coming out of a longer than expected annual condition inspection and hopefully flying this week. I plan to bring it to Oshkosh. Warbird Heritage Foundation and Skyblazers F models should make Oshkosh barring mechanical issues and possibly another F model Doug Matthews' crew has been restoring for a few years. So that makes four currently airworthy F-86s (that I know of), maybe five, that owners/operators are aiming to bring to Oshkosh.

Hi Jim,

The F-86A is alive and well, just had some maintenance challenges last year but those issues are resolved and it is flying regularly. The owner is planning to bring it to Oshkosh this year. My Canadair Mk 6 is just coming out of a longer than expected annual condition inspection and hopefully flying this week. I plan to bring it to Oshkosh. Warbird Heritage Foundation and Skyblazers F models should make Oshkosh barring mechanical issues and possibly another F model Doug Matthews' crew has been restoring for a few years. So that makes four currently airworthy F-86s (that I know of), maybe five, that owners/operators are aiming to bring to Oshkosh.

Excellent news, Paul!

Good to hear that your beautiful Sabre is almost ready to fly again. And great to hear that the F-86A is a regular flyer again! Look forward to seeing all the Sabres at Oshkosh this year, and fingers crossed that this may finally be the year of the highly anticipated 4-Ship Sabre formation!

See you in about 2 1/2 months.

[quemerford]

Paul Allen's F-86A must be coming along too (in terms of restoration): anyone know?

As T33driver/Paul told us a few weeks back and now confirmed on the EAA AirVenture site:

https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-a ... airventure