Marines Helping to refurbish an F-86L

[Warbirdnerd]

From the looks of the F-86 pictured in the article, the have their work cut out for them..

Monroe - A contingent of Marines from Stewart Air National Guard Base descended on Airplane Park in overcast weather last weekend to begin rehabilitating the park’s namesake, the vintage Korean War era, F86L SabreJet.

With the possibility of inclement weather, the village board contacted team leader, Staff Sgt. Claude Gillman, suggesting a possible delay.

Gillman’s answer: “Snow doesn’t matter; we’ll come anyway. We’re Marines.”

Gillman estimates the work will take approximate 100 man hours and - if commercially performed - would cost “at least a half a million dollars.” Prior to his Stewart assignment, he served multiple tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.To begin the task, the six Marines were joined by Trustee Wayne Chan, DPW Superintendant Brian T. Smith and mechanic Jesse Hedges, who assisted with a portable generator and welding equipment. The dilapidated and graffiti-scrawled war plane has been a landmark at Crane Park for many years.

The Marine’s plan is to grind off the graffiti, repair the sheet-metal skin, close all panels, install a new canopy, new tires and nose cone and paint the entire aircraft. Gillman and his men volunteered for the job.

A resident of Monroe, Gillman and his crew are members of the regular Marine Corps stationed at Stewart with Squadron VMGR 452 assigned to work on KC 130 aircraft.



According to the F86’s SabreJet’s manufacturer, Boeing, the F86 was the first swept-wing airplane in the U.S. fighter inventory and was used extensively in the Korean War against the Russian made MIG fighters. First deployed in 1951, more than 6000 aircraft were manufactured before production ended in 1956

Found it here:
http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2009 ... news/6.txt

[warbird_patrick]

Nice article, wish them the best of luck, I love the one line "The Marine’s plan is to grind off the graffiti"

Patrick

[Jerry O'Neill]

Great to see this bird getting some much needed attention.
I've been following it's saga since my Brother moved to that town 15 years ago.
I think they may be a bit optimistic, it's gonna take more than a 100 hours!
It needs lots of work.
Jerry

[GARY HILTON]

Gotta love them reporters...I can't wait to see this ultra rare Boeing F-86L.

[Rob Mears]

Oh Lord, somebody send those boys some paint stripper!

[Jerry O'Neill]

What they don't tell you is the Cockpit is filled with concrete.
It had the plexiglass removed and then filled to the top of the canopy frame line. A ladder was added to the right side and a slide to the left so kids could go up one side and slide down the other.
No engine in it. It's basically complete except for the nose cone.
Jerry

[67N20]

Anybody have any pictures of this? The link is dead and my wife andi are visiting a college friend of hers who thinks she played on it when she was a child.

[quemerford]

Not 'Korean War era' (delivered 1954), but here it is pre-restoration:



You can also do a drive-by on Google Maps!

[JohnB]

Good on the Marines!

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Gotta love them reporters...I can't wait to see this ultra rare Boeing F-86L.

Well, the reporter is correct, strictly speaking. North American was acquired by Rockwell International, which then became part of Boeing. You and I know that F-86s were made by a company called North American, but I don't expect every reporter to know that, and when they do a search,they end up with a company called Boeing. I'm sure there are many non-aviation products with which you're equally unfamiliar.

[Chris Brame]

More recent info and photos here. Looks like restorers and vandals are going back and forth with it.
http://thephoto-news.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... plane-Park
This recent shot from the local ReMax site shows it's gained a canopy, of sorts, and a display pad:

Serial is 52-10052; looks like it last served with the NY ANG.

[quemerford]

Serial is 52-10052; looks like it last served with the NY ANG.

Last active unit was 158th FIS GA ANG, hence the tail colours. Retired to 2856th ABWg at Griffiss in May 1962.

[Chris Brame]

Aha! Thanks for the correction - should have recognized it - same markings as the Sabre that was at Mercer Field in GA.

[claude]

before


after

Last edited by claude on Fri Oct 03, 2014 5:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Invader26]

Semper fi......