North American F-86 Sabre day fighter variants and subvariants

Including the F-86A/E/F, their Canadair equivalents, the Orenda-engined CL-13A/B, the Commonwealth CA-27, as well as prototype, service-test, and developmental Sabres

Military Designation Company Engine Wing Windscreen Other Characteristics No. Delivery Dates Serial Nos. Later Upgrades Service Notes
Designation Built

General One ventral, two rear- Completed Production-style rear

XP-86/ Flew 241 hours for
Electric Original wing with hinged side speed brakes; Aug. 8, 1947 fuselage fitted
XF-86 No. NA-140 Rounded 1 45-59597 F-86 test program; lost
J35-C-3 leading-edge slats instrument booms on both First flight Jan. 1949; J35-A-17
1 Sept. 1952
(Chevy-built) wingtips; no armament Oct. 1, 1947 fitted Nov. 1949
Production-style rear
General
XP-86/ fuselage with two front- Flew 202 hours for
Electric Original wing with
XF-86 No. NA-140 Rounded hinged speed brakes; 1 Early 1948 45-59598 F-86 test program;
J35-C-3 leading-edge slats
2 instrument booms on both retired April 1953
(Chevy-built)
wingtips; no armament
Production speed brakes;
General
XP-86/ Original wing with instrument booms on both Flew 75 hours for
Electric
XF-86 No. NA-140 fully automatic Rounded wingtips; full armament; 1 Early 1948 45-59599 F-86 test program,
J35-C-3
3 leading-edge slats Sperry Mk.18 GBR gun- retired April 1953
(Chevy-built)
sight; gun doors
P-86A-1- General
Original wing with T-4E-1 ejection seat; Sperry 47-605 Used for service test
NA/ Electric May 1948 - Pitot tube retrofitted
NA-151 fully automatic Rounded Mk.18 GBR gunsight; gun 33 to with NAA; AMC; never
F-86A-1- J47- March 1949 to right wingtip
leading-edge slats doors 47-637 entered regular service
NA GE-1/-3-/-7
P-86 for rough field
Were to be Cancelled; 190
operation with strength-
48-129 reordered: 188
P-86B - - - - ened landing gear; larger 0 - -
to P-86As, and 2 YP-86C
tires; 7-inch bulged
48-318 penetration fighters
fuselage
Pitot tube retrofitted
Original wing with
to right wingtip of
General fully automatic
Sperry Mk.18 GBR gun- early A-5s; NA-161 Service including ADC
Electric leading-edge slats; V-shaped 48-129
F-86A-5- sight; gun doors on early March 1949 upgrades retrofitted. (1st Fighter Interceptor
NA-151 J47-GE-7/ from 116th F-86A armored 188 to
NA A-5s. Pitot tube added to - Sept. 1949 A-5s with gunsight/ Wing), 4th FIW in Korea,
J47-GE-13 (48-210) on, new slat glass 48-316
right wingtip of late A-5s radar retrofits USAFE, and later ANG
field upgrade tracks and no slat
redesignated A-6 or
locks
A-7
A-1B GBR gunsight with
Original wing with Pitot tube retrofitted
AN/APG-5C ranging radar;
new slat tracks and to right wingtip of
General V-shaped new 120-gallon drop tanks Service including ADC,
F-86A-5- no slat locks; from Oct. 1949 - Dec. 49-1007 to early A-5s; A-5s with
NA-161 Electric armored developed for the F-86; 333 4th FIW in Korea,
NA 282nd NA-161 1950 49-1339 gunsight/radar
J47-GE-13 glass pitot tube added to right USAFE, later ANG
(49-1288) on, new retrofits redesignat-
wingtip of late A-5s; last 24
short-chord aileron ed A-6 or A-7
completed as A-7s
Original wing with
redesigned V-shaped F-86A-5-NA pulled from
Avro Canada Started Aug. Set a world speed
F-86J NA-167 leading-edge slats armored the assembly line for 1 49-1069
TR.5 Orenda 3 1949 record in June 1952
with new slat tracks glass modification
and no slat locks
Color code notes for country of origin of airframe and engine manufacturers Serial Numbers
Blue: United States Dark Blue: USAF
Red: Canada Red :RCAF
Brown: Australia Brown: RAAF
Purple: United Kingdom Green: U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Program
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 Original wing with
General redesigned V-shaped F-86A-5-NA assembled Central Experimental
Sabre Completed July
CL-13 Electric leading-edge slats armored from NAA built compo- 1 19101 and Proving
Mk.1 1950
J47-GE-13 with new slat tracks glass nents by Canadair Establishment
and no slat locks
NA-151 General V-shaped Most likely
F-86A-6- Retrofits of A-5s with A-1CM GBR gunsight with Korea — A-6 less
and Electric armored ? late1950-early Retrofits
NA wing unchanged AN/APG-5C ranging radar common than A-7
NA-161 J47-GE-13 glass 1951
Retrofits of A-5s with
Last 24 A-5s redesignated, 49-1316
NA-151 General wing unchanged; 24 V-shaped
F-86A-7- plus retrofits; A-1CM GBR 24 Dec. 1950-early to
and Electric production with armored Korea
NA gunsight with AN/APG-30 plus ? 1951? 49-1339, plus
NA-161 J47-GE-13 new short-chord glass
ranging radar retrofits
aileron
Like F-86A-7 (A-1CM GBR 33rd FIW at Otis AFB
Original wing with
gunsight with AN/APG-30 (Feb. ’51); 1st FIW
General late A-5 changes; V-shaped First flight 23 50-579
F-86E-1- ranging radar) with “6-3” wing kit (Mar.-Apr. ’51); 4th FIW
NA-170 Electric redesigned armored 60 Sept 1950 to
NA all-flying tail; bulge possible (July ’51) and 51st FIW
J47-GE-13 leading-edge slats; glass Feb. 1951-? 50-638
extending forward of (Sept. ’51), both in
short-chord aileron
tailplane Korea
33rd FIW at Otis AFB
(Feb. ’51); 1st FIW
General V-shaped 50-639
F-86E-5- Original wing with Like E-1 with minor panel “6-3” wing kit (Mar.-Apr. ’51); 4th FIW
NA-170 Electric armored 51 ?-May 1951 to
NA late A-5 changes switch changes possible (July ’51) and 51st FIW
J47-GE-13 glass 50-689
(Sept. ’51), both in
Korea
Most to RCAF Nos. 1, 2,
3, and 4 Fighter Wings
19102 to
in Europe
19199
Original wing with Identical to F-86E-1; total of 19378, 19384, 19404
Sabre 19201 to
General late A-5 changes; V-shaped 350 built: 288 for RCAF (60 350 transferred to RAF as
Mk.2 Jan. 1951- 19452 “6-3” wing before
CL-13 Electric redesigned armored diverted to the USAF as -60 to XB530, XB531, XB532
Sabre F.2 Aug. 1952 60 also have transfer as F-86E(M)
J47-GE-13 leading-edge slats; glass F-86E-6-CAN); 3 for RAF as F-86E- (19378 later returned)
F-86E(M) USAF
short-chord aileron Sabre F.2 6-CAN Former RCAF aircraft
numbers as
redesignated F-86E(M)
F-86E-6-CAN
when transferred to
other users
General
Electric Flat First 132 F-86F-1s fitted
F-86E-10- Original wing with Sept. 1951-May 51-2718 to Some “6-3” wing kits
NA-172 J47-GE-13/ armored with J47-GE-13 due to 132 To Korea
NA late A-5 changes 1952 51-2849 in Korea
IRAN upgrade glass J47-GE-27 delays
to -27
52-2833 to
Original wing with Designation for F-86E-1/
52-2892 Almost all to 4th and
F-86E-6- General late A-5 changes; V-shaped Sabre Mk.2 built by
Also have Some “6-3” wing kits 51st FIWs in Korea; later
CAN CL-13 Electric redesigned armored Canadair and diverted to 60 April-July 1952
RCAF in Korea to ANG
(first use) J47-GE-13 leading-edge slats; glass the USAF to alleviate
numbers as
short-chord aileron shortage of F-86 in Korea
Sabre Mk.2
Final 78 of 210 planned
General Flat
F-86F-1- Original wing with F-1s; identical to E-10, 51-2850 to “6-3” wing kits in 84th FIS (June ’52),
NA-172 Electric armored 78 April-July 1952
NA late A-5 changes except fitted with J47- 51-2927 Korea (Sept. ’52) 4th FIW (Sept. ’52)
J47-GE-27 glass
GE-27

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 E-10 51-2803,
Project Gun-Val conversion 2819, 2826
First flight March
General Flat of four E-10s and six F-1s; and 2836 8 to 4th FIW
F-86F-2- Solid “6-3” wing with 10 1952;
NA-172 Electric armored all fitted with J47-GE-27, F-1 51-2855, (Jan.-Apr. ’53),
NA fences conv. March-June?
J47-GE-27 glass four T-160 20mm cannons, 2861, 2867, later to ANG
1952
and A-4 GBR gunsight 2868, 2884
and 2900
Project Gun-Val conversion
F-86F-3- General Flat
Solid “6-3” wing with of two F-1s with four 2 Tests 51-2916 and Redesignated JF-86F in
NA/ NA-172 Electric armored
fences Oerlikon 206RK 20mm conv. April 1954-1955 51-2926 1957
JF-86F J47-GE-27 glass
cannons
Identical to F-1 except for
General Flat
F-86F-5- Original wing with strengthened attachment 51-2928 to “6-3” wing kits in
NA-172 Electric armored 16 April-July 1952
NA late A-5 changes points for new 200-gallon 51-2943 Korea (Sept. ’52)
J47-GE-27 glass
drop tanks
General Flat
F-86F-10- Original wing with Identical to F-5 except for 51-12936 to “6-3” wing kits in
NA-172 Electric armored 34 April-July 1952
NA late A-5 changes A-4 GBR gunsight 51-12969 Korea (Sept. ’52)
J47-GE-27 glass
F-86F-10 with survivability
improvements; production
General Flat
F-86F-15- Original wing with problems with -27 engine 51-12970 to “6-3” wing kits in All but one to 4th FIW
NA-172 Electric armored 7 April-July 1952
NA late A-5 changes necessitated last 93 to be 51-12976 Korea (Sept. ’52) in Korea
J47-GE-27 glass
completed as F-86E-15
with J47-GE-13
General
Electric Flat The 8-100th F-86F-15s
F-86E-15- Original wing with Aug. - 51-12977 to To ADC, ANG, none to
NA-172 J47-GE-13/ armored completed with J47-GE-13 93
NA late A-5 changes Dec. 1952 51-13069 Korea
IRAN upgrade glass due to J47-GE-27 delays
to -27
Columbus-built F-86; First flight May
NA-176 General Flat
F-86F-20- Original wing with almost identical to 1952 51-13070 to
(1st Electric armored 100 None to Korea
NH late A-5 changes Inglewood Sept. 1952-Jan.? 51-13169
part) J47-GE-27 glass
F-86F-15-NA 1953
Sabre Like F-86E-10; some 19453-19890
Mk.4 internal changes compared Only last 60 428 (plus one more
Sabre F.4 with Sabre Mk.2; 429 for First flight Aug. have USAF later) MDAP funded to
General Flat
F-86E-6- Original wing with RAF as Sabre F.4 (MDAP 1952 serial “6-3” wing before RAF; all to 2nd TAF in
CL-13 Electric armored 438
CAN late A-5 changes funded, called F-86E-6-CAN Dec. 1952-Dec. numbers transfer, as F-86E(M) West Germany except
J47-GE-13 glass
(second by USAF); was to have 1953 52-10177 for the last 60 to Fighter
use) Orenda engine, but delays to Command in U.K.
F-86E(M) caused J47 to be used 52-10236
Later brought to
Used by Jacqueline
Sabre Mk.2 given same Sabre Mk.4 stan-
V-shaped Cochran to set three
Sabre Avro Canada Original wing with modifications for Orenda First flight Sept. dards, but apparent-
CL-13 armored 1 19200 women’s world speed
Mk.3 TR.5 Orenda 4 late A-5 changes engine as F-86J; no 52 ly not redesignated
glass records in May and
armament or put into regular
June 1953
service

Color code notes for country of origin of airframe and engine manufacturers Serial Numbers
Blue: United States Dark Blue: USAF
Red: Canada Red :RCAF
Brown: Australia Brown: RAAF
Purple: United Kingdom Green: U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Program
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 Fighter-bomber; dual-store
wing with new inner “6-3” wing kits in
hardpoints each carrying Korea; F-40-equiva-
Early General Flat 1,000 pounds of ordnance NA-191 lent long-span wing
Original wing with 52-4305 to 8th FBW and 18th FBW
F-86F-30- NA-191 Electric armored or a 120- or 200- gallon 199 Oct. 1952- kits with extended
late A-5 changes 52-4503 in Korea
NA J47-GE-27 glass drop tank and a 120- or May 1954 wingtips and “6-3”
200-gallon drop tank on wing with restored
each of the outer pylons; slats
F-30 airframes 1-199
F-40-equivalent
Like the early F-86F-30-NA, long-span wing kits
Late General Flat NA-191
Solid “6-3” wing with but built with the “6-3” 52-4504 to with extended 8th FBW and 18th FBW
F-86F-30- NA-191 Electric armored 660 Oct. 1952-
fences wing; F-30 numbers 52-5163 wingtips and “6-3” in Korea
NA J47-GE-27 glass May 1954
200-859 wing with restored
slats
“6-3” wing kits:
F-40-equivalent
Early NA-176 General Flat Columbus-built version of long-span wing kits
Original wing with 170 51-13170 to
F-86F-25- (2nd Electric armored the Inglewood F-86F-30- Jan.-Aug. 1953 with extended None to Korea
late A-5 changes 51-13339
NH part) J47-GE-27 glass NA; F-25 numbers 1-170 wingtips and “6-3”
wing with restored
slats
F-40 equivalent
NA-176 Columbus-built version of NA-176 Jan.-
51-13340 to long-span wing kits
Late (2nd General Flat the Inglewood F-86F-30- 171- Aug. 1953
Solid “6-3” wing with 51-13510 with extended
F-86F-25- part) Electric armored NA, but built with the “6-3” and NA-193 None to Korea
fences 52-5272 to wingtips and “6-3”
NH and J47-GE-27 glass wing; F-25 numbers 259 May 1953-March
52-5530 wing with restored
NA-193 171-341 1954
slats
Like F-86F-30-NA with the NA-191
Low Altitude Bombing Oct. 1952- 52-5164 to
NA-191 General Flat 108
F-86F-35- Solid “6-3” wing with System; able to carry a May 1954 52-5271
and Electric armored and Most to USAFE
NA fences 1,200-pound Mk.12 nuclear NA-202 53-1072 to
NA-202 J47-GE-27 glass 157
weapon (20 kT); 265 in two March 1953-Aug. 53-1228
batches 1954
Avro Canada Flat 23001 All to RCAF replacing
Sabre Solid “6-3” wing with Like USAF F-86F-30, but First flight July Slatted “6-3” wings
CL-13A TR.5 Orenda armored 370 to Mk.2; later 75 sent to
Mk.5 fences with Orenda engine. 1953 retrofitted later
10 glass 23370 Germany
Redesigned fuselage with
larger intake and new
breakpoint for the
Rolls-Royce Flat To ARDU; later used as
Original wing with Rolls-Royce Avon engine; Completed
None CA-26 Avon R.A.7/ armored 1 A94-101 an instructional
late A-5 changes two 30mm Aden guns; July 1953
Mk.114 glass airframe
wings, tail, and horizontal
stabilizers nearly identical
to F-86E
Avon 20 Most given solid
(CAC-assem- “6-3” wing and
Flat A94-901 ARDU, No.2 OCU,
Sabre bled Rolls- Original wing with Production version of Aug. 1954-July designated Sabre
CA-27 armored 22 to Nos. 3, 75, 76, and 77
Mk.30 Royce Avon late A-5 changes CA-26 1955 Mk.31; AIM-9B
glass A94-922 Squadrons
R.A.7/Mk.114) Sidewinder/Aero 3B
pylon, 2/60

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 Initial batch
(292) 382 to RCAF Nos. 1, 2, 3,
23371 4 Fighter Wings in
Early Mk.6s built
to Europe; 265 to other
Avro Canada with solid “6-3” wing Flat First flight Early Mk.6s later
Sabre Like Sabre Mk.5 except for 23662 countries: 6 Colombia
CL-13B TR.5 Orenda with fences; later armored 647 Oct. 1954- retrofitted with
Mk.6 Orenda 14 engine Second batch (Nos. 2021-2026), 34
14 Mk.6s built with glass Oct. 1958 leading-edge slats
(90) South Africa (Nos.
slatted “6-3” wings
23663 350-383), and 225
to Germany
23752
ARDU, No. 2 OCU, 
Flat A94-923
Sabre Solid “6-3” wing with Sabre Mk.30 with “6-3” June 1955- AIM-9B Sidewinder No. 5 OTU,
CA-27 CAC Avon 20 armored 20 to
Mk.31 fences wing Sept. 1956 /Aero 3B pylon, 2/60 Nos. 3, 75, 76, 77, and
glass A94-942
79 Squadrons
Like F-30 and F-25 with
Long-span “6-3” 55-3816 to
General Flat long-span “6-3” wing with 215 First completed
F-86F-40- wing with extended 55-4030 AIM-9B Sidewinder
NA-227 Electric armored extended wingtips and and Oct. 1955 For MDAP
NA wingtips and 55-4983 to /Aero 3B pylon, 2/60
J47-GE-27 glass restored slats; 65 added to 65 Jan.-Dec. 1956
restored slats 55-5047
NA-227 contract
300 MDAP funded,
Japanese-assembled
F-86Fs for service with
NA-231
JASDF
NA-238
F-86F-40- (Built in the United States,
NA-256 55-5048 to Kit supplied to
MIT assembled in Japan):
(Built in Long-span “6-3” Like F-86F-40-NA; assem- 55-5117 Mitsubishi with set
(Built in the General Flat JASDF serials
the wing with extended bled by Mitsubishi; 300 Aug. 1956- 56-2773 to of pylons for the
United Electric armored 300 62-7701/7705,
United wingtips and ordered in three batches of Feb. 1961 56-2882 Philco-Ford GAR-8
States, J47-GE-27 glass 72-7706/7773,
States, restored slats 70,110, and 120 57-6338 to (AIM-9B) Sidewinder
assembled 82-7774/7868,
assem- 57-6457 air-to-air missile
in Japan) 92-7869/7880,
bled in
92-7881/7940,
Japan)
02-7941/7991,
12-7992/7999, and
12-7000
Like the Sabre Mk.31 with A94-943 to
ARDU,
Avon 26 engine and 28 A94-970
Flat No. 2 OCU, 
Sabre Solid “6-3” wing with dual-store wings like the 20 Oct. 1956- A94-971 to AIM-9B Sidewinder/
CA-27 CAC Avon 26 armored No. 5 OTU,
Mk.32 fence F-86F-30-NA fighter-bomb- 21 Aug. 1961 A94-990 Aero 3B pylon, 2/60
glass No. 3/75/76/77/79
er with new inner hard- (69) A94-351 to
Squadrons
points 371
Color code notes for country of origin of airframe and engine manufacturers Serial Numbers
Blue: United States Dark Blue: USAF
Red: Canada Red :RCAF
Brown: Australia Brown: RAAF
Purple: United Kingdom Green: U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Program

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Military designation
USAAF/USAF Pursuit/Fighter Designation
The fighter designation changed from “P” for Pursuit to “F” for Fighter in June 1948, the XP-86, P-86A-1-NA and P-86A-5-NA becoming the XF-86, F-86A-1-NA and F-86A-5-NA.
Later in their service lives, some or all of the XP-86s were informally labeled as “YF-86s”.

USAF manufacturers codes

NA: North American Aviation, Inglewood, California, USA.
NH: North American Aviation, Columbus, Ohio, USA (Navy owned plant formerly used by Curtiss for SB2C Helldiver production, closed since end of World War II)
CAN: Canadair Ltd. Cartierville plant, Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
MIT: Kits built by NAA Inglewood and assembled by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation manufacturing site was Fishermen’s Bend, Victoria, Australia

Sources:

Print
Martin Bowman, Combat Legend F-86 Sabre; Crowood Press/Airlife, 2004; ISBN 978-1-84037-411-7
Larry Davis; F-86 Sabre in Action (Aircraft No. 33); Squadron/Signal Publications, 1978; ISBN 978-0-89747-282-1
Larry Davis; North American F-86 Sabre, Wings of Fame, Volume 10; Aerospace Publishing, 1998; ISBN 978-1-86184-013-4
Robert F. Dorr; F-86 Sabre — History of the Sabre and FJ Fury; Motorbooks International, 1993; ISBN 978-0-87938-748-8
William Green & Gerald Pollinger; The World’s Fighting Planes; Doubleday, 1964; No ISBN
William Green; The World Guide to Combat Planes; Doubleday, 1966; No ISBN
Ray Wagner; The North American Sabre (MacDonald Aircraft Monographs); Doubleday, 1963; No ISBN
Kenneth Werrell; Sabres Over MiG Alley — The F-86 and the Battle for Air Superiority in Korea; Naval Institute Press, 2005; ISBN 978-1-59114-933-0

Websites
North American F-86 Sabre at www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p86.html
The North American F-86 Sabre at www.airvectors.net/avf86.html
F-86 Sabre Production Data at www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/f-86/f-86_prod.shtml
Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers at www.rwrwalker.ca/
RAAF A94 Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-26/CA-27 Sabre Mk.30/31/32, by Rod Farquhar at www.adf-serials.com.au/2a94intro.htm

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