NORTH AMERICAN F-86H SABRE

The F-86H was the last of the non-radar equipped, day-fighter Sabres and was intended for use as a fighter-bomber capable of dropping nuclear weapons. Numerous changes were made to the basic F-86 design to create the H model including; an enlarged fuselage to accommodate a bigger engine, a revised canopy design, and the replacement of the standard six .50 caliber machine guns with four 20mm cannons. In the end the F-86H was the best performing version of the Sabre and could fly faster, higher, and farther than any of the other variants. Unfortunately, by the time the H model was introduced other even newer designs were doing the same things even better and the F-86H only served in front line units between 1954 and 1958. It did, however continue in service with the Air National Guard into the 1970s. Ex-Air Force F-86Hs were also used as adversary aircraft by the U.S. Navy's Top Gun school into the late 1970s.