Canadair Sabre

[Wayne Henderson]

Hi Canadian members,
Bought this puppy home a while back and am giving it a well overdue clean up and polish.
Built in Canada, under lic by Canadair, sold to South Africa where it saw service up to the 1970's.
Camo is South African, post Korea. That's coming off!

The jet is a Canadair CL13b or F 86E in American and am seeking a manual for it.

Hanno, I know it's not a CMP but it is Canadian, has wheels and is green and brown

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Wayne, great find!

Will this be a static display or will you make it fly again?

The Sabre is favourite jet fighter. When reading up on it I learned the Canadair version differed a lot from the American built one.

Hanno

[Jacques Reed]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Wayne, great find!

Will this be a static display or will you make it fly again?

The Sabre is favourite jet fighter. When reading up on it I learned the Canadair version differed a lot from the American built one.

Hanno

Hi Hanno,

And the Australian license built CAC (Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation) Sabre jet differed even more from the American version with its Roll Royce
Avon powerplant and 2 x 30 mm cannon armament in lieu of 6 x .50 caliber MGs on the earlier US F86F model.

Most noticeable, when viewed from head on, is the wider front fuselage and air intake to accommodate the larger RR engine.

I have been lucky to have seen that CAC version fly at Avalon Airshow here in Australia a while back.
Still impressive even after 60 years.

Cheers,

[barriefield-brian]

Just awesome !!!! Cheers Brian

[Frank v R]

did you get the Log Books?

[Jacques Reed]

Good Day All,

These photos may be of some interest to show the difference between the US and Australian built F86 Sabre jets.

The photo of the Sabre jet on the ground was taken at the Moorabbin Air Museum in the early 90's.

The photo of the F86 on the pylon was taken at Raymond Terrace NSW also in the early 90's. Since then, in 2013 it has been removed to Williamstown for restoration for display at Fighter World.

Both show the single gun ports in the nacelle for the 30 mm Aden cannon as used in the CAC built aircraft and the more substantial nacelle and intake area to accommodate the RR Avon engine.

My apologies for the poor quality scans from 35mm film photos. I thought I had some more taken at Avalon Air show but cannot put my finger on them just yet.

Cheers,

[cletrac (RIP)]

Does it have a radio in it? I have an ARC 502 that came out of a Canadian Sabre jet if you're interested.

[Dave D.]

Originally Posted by Wayne Henderson

The jet is a Canadair CL13b or F 86E in American and am seeking a manual for it.

:

Did you find the manual you were looking for?

I was plane nuts long before I was MV nuts so I'm loving the Sabre and still hang around our Aviation Museum as much as possible.

Lech is a great resource at our local Alberta Aviation Museum and he can be reached here. https://www.albertaaviationmuseum.com/contact-us/

The MVPA sets up there at least once a year so asking for help with info or a manual for a Canadian Sabre shouldn't be an issue.

I'm not saying he can help but if anyone can, he can.

Thanks for sharing it.

[Robert Bergeron]

Now i understand it all. We sold used Canadair Sabres to Australia in the 50- 60’s and now we buy used F-18’s from them 50-60 years later. Makes sense now . Does it ?

[David Dunlop]

Wayne.

There was a company (I think in New Brunswick, Canada - possibly Moncton) that acquired the majority of surplus Canadian made Sabres still held in Canada decades ago. I have seen photos of their compound full of the Sabres. The company in question had a contract with the US Air Force to provide them with target drones.

The planes were refurbished to full flight capability with the addition of drone control equipment. As the planes were needed by USAAF, pilots would pick them up and fly them down to whatever base in the States. The base would then send them out over the missle range to be blown out of the sky while following a slow, steady flight path.

Its a long shot but that company might have parts sitting around if anyone can ID them.

David

[Keith Webb]

As mentioned earlier our Sabres were a much enhanced version of the original design. I've interviewed some of the engineers and designers who worked on the drawings at Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and they told me about the incredible amount of re-engineering it took to fit the larger R-R Avon engine.

We did not buy any of the old Canadian ones; all ours were newly built here.

Attached is a frame grab from a video I shot back in 2013 of the RAAF owned Temora Aviation Museum restored and operated Sabre.

Camera aircraft was a Caribou going absolutely flat knacker with five of us in the back (all with lanyards). The Sabre was wallowing around with full flap out flown skilfully by RAAF pilot 'Simmo'.

The Sabre is fitted with a smoke system for displays. It is currently grounded because Martin-Baker are no longer supporting the ejection seat which had been fitted by TAM.

[Wayne Henderson]

Hi Dave, I do have a digital copy of the North American F 86 but am still looking for a Canadair Manual as the two aircraft do vary in several areas. I will try your link with thanks.

Hi Terry,
Thanks for the link, great looking aircraft! Im on to it.

Thanks David for the information, long shot or not, worth a go.

Hi Keith, Great photo, looks like it's heavy under brakes. The paint job is very hot rod and looks brilliant. I have included a pic of the ejector seat, bare bones with the bang bits removed.

The nose wheel is made by BF Goodrich and has a new matching tyre.

The canopy is suffering from crazing and the rubber needs touching up in areas but it is starting to look better without the camo.

I have also included a shot from a manual of the panels that I need to find or make.