Ardmore F-86 Sabrejet

[bear]

Just happened to be driving past Ardmore in the weekend and noticed the crated up fuselage and wings of a Korean War painted F-86 (yellow bands). Further along seemed to be another camoflaged a/c, although I had to keep at least one eye on the road.

I recall there used to be an old ex-Phillipine AF one around. Is this it?

Perhaps the RNZAF Strike Wing is reforming(!)...

[Dave Homewood]

I don't know what became of the ex-Phillipines one, probably chopped up (all it was good for I hear

But the Sabres you saw were two of five that AvSpecs are restoring. The one with yellow bands is restored to static and going off to a museum (in Russia?).

See here
www.warbirdrestoration.co.nz/current.html#f86

[Dave Homewood]

Here's a photo I took in Feb 2005. Was this the same one?

[hairy]

Hi Dave, I was out there on Monday, yes that is the Sabre ready to be shipped. What I did notice was that there is now an ex SAAF sabre outside AVSPECS awaiting work and inside being worked on is an ex.RAAF Sabre. The Aussie Sabre looks like a candidate for airworthy restoration, I will post the serials when I get back to Auck.

Anyone know any thing else.

[Dave Homewood]

From the AvSpecs website I deduced the RAAF one is to fly, as it's for Jerry Yagen. Not sure though.

Has a Sabre flown in NZ before?

[hairy]

[shane]

Has anyone got any updates for this thread ? I have found that one sabre is at the Classic flyers museum . i noticed one other one in NZ was being used as a advertising gimmick im not sure if that one came from Avspecs and I believe the one that was for sale on trade me belongs to Bill Reid but im not too sure.

[Marcus]

Oct 5, 2008 15:59:30 GMT 12 shane said:

Has anyone got any updates for this thread ?

Hi Shane

Not sure if this is what you thinking of. Ex SAAF Candair built CL 13B Sabre. I took the pic of this Sabre still in its "last" SAAF coulours on 5 Jan 2007 at Ardmore. I guess this Sabre should be fairly far along in its restoration programme by now?

Regards

Marcus... (The African one.... ;D)

[shane]

Thanks very much for that , i might try find out what i can about it using its serial in the pic. A good friend of mine served in the SAAF perhaps i can find out something looking through his book collection

[Marcus]

Hi Shane

Shane when and where did your friend serve inthe SAAF?

Here is some background info on Sabre 383. From another site I subscribe to:

Sabres for South Africa

In 1955, 34 Sabre Mk 6s were ordered for the South African Air Force (SAAF). South Africa had actually operated a squadron of Sabres during the Korean War, but these aircraft had actually been only "loaned" to No. 2 Squadron of the SAAF and were returned to the USAF when No. 2 Squadron returned home.

The Sabre Mk 6s arrived in South Africa beginning in 1956. 17 of them were marked in Afrikaans and issued to No. 1 Squadron, and the other 17 were marked in English and issued to No. 2 Squadron.

SAAF serials were 350 to 383 (RCAF serials were 23669/23702). They remained in service with No 2 Squadron until 1964 when they were replaced by Mirage IIICZ fighters. The CL-13Bs remained with No. 1 Squadron until 1976, when they were replaced by Mirage F.1AZ ground attack fighters.

The plane (383) was last photographed at Lanseria on 8 Sep 2000, ex-Kempton Park Technical College, but was derelict by 2004 and the thinking was that it was scheduled for a rebuild for US owner.

Second source: SAAF CanadairCL-13B Sabre Mk6 383 (c/n 1492, ex RCAF 23702) was given to Kempton Park Technical College. It was then stored in the open at Lanseria for quite some time before being sold to NZ (I think last year - 2006).

And then this pic of 383 in her glory days!

[shane]

Brilliant thank u very much for that info .
My friend Kingsley served in the Anti Aircraft section (dispite his love for planes) about 20 years ago. He served on the Namibian border. They were armed with captured Russian designed AA cannons and he said on several ocations they were bombed by MiGs with poor aim.