E-3996 The F-86F performed both pitch-up research and duties as a chase aircraft for the D-558-2. Its stay at the HSFS was brief. It arrived on June 23, 1954, and left on September 10 the same year. The F-86 had a 35 degree sweptwing and a wing span of 37 feet 1 inch with a General Electric J47-GE engine. It was the first U.S. sweptwing fighter and saw extensive action in the Korean War. It could slightly exceed Mach 1 in a dive. The NACA High-Speed Flight Station flew several North American F-86 Sabres from 1951 to 1959. The F-86A (Serial #48-291), F-86D (Serial #50-577), F-86E (Serial #50-606) were on loan from Ames Aeronautical Laboratory with the F-86F (Serial #52-5426) being assigned to the High-Speed Flight Station. The F-86 Sabres were flown by NACA High-Speed Flight Station test pilots as chase planes and for research flights. 1958 NASA Photo F-86 Project Description
