F-86K

[T J Johansen]

While searching for photos of F-86 Sabres it dawned on me that there is no all-weather F-86 (D/K/L) flying today. There was one owned by fire bomber boss Sergio Tomassoni (T&G) for some time. It was later sold to a Robert Alan Kemp of Reno and was regd. N86RJ for some 20 years. I actually thought it was being made flyable! (see here) http://www.warbirdregistry.org/jetregis ... 16071.html
However this bird is now sitting on the pole at Davis Monthan AFB as a static display. (See photo here) http://f-86.tripod.com/usa.html The same Kemp has been the regd. owner of an F-100 as of lately so who knows, maybe that will fly!
So what is the reason for no D/K/L models flying? I seem to remember a story that the K models were wfu by the Norwegian AF due to center section cracks. Anyone who can tell me if this is an inherent flaw in the design? According to the F86 website there is one D model under rebuild in St. Louis, MO by a guy named Dan Bissell, but it doesn't say whether or not it is to airworthy standard!

T J

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

I can remember a D model that sat out back behind a building at the Stead airport for years; rumor was they were going to make it flyable. I was working for CIA at the time (now Aviation Classics) we were putting together 2 F-86's one flyable ex South African Air Force, and a static for the Air Force, Where it went I do not know. We also did a FJ for the Marines. Sure would have like to seen that one fly.
Scott.....

[astixjr]

I thought there was a flyable D for sale in NM a few years back, maybe I'm thinking of the F-100? It was bare metal with some red and blue trim maybe? The radar nose F-86 at D-M that is mounted on a pylon near the flight line came from John Muszala. The F-86 now with Dan Bissel here in St. Louis is an ex-Yugoslavian (via Denmark I seem to recall) that was imported to Arizona by Dwight Barnell back on the mid 1980s. I guess the D/L/K models were really hard to maintain. Lot's of complicated tube technology electronics in the engine controls and radar system.

[T J Johansen]

So, is Bissell's 86 going to fly?

T J

[Al Moore]

Here is a F-86D being restored to flight according to the website.


http://www.fighterjets.com/F_86D.asp

[astixjr]

As far as I know, Dan has no plans at this time to restore his F-86 to flying status. He does like to find all the parts that would make any of his jets fly but most are stored in a warehouse in St. Louis. he also has two Mig-21s, at least one Mig-17, several F-4s, most of a F-105 in small pieces, and one or two A-7s. All of them but the F-105 could, in theory, be restored to fly.