Difference between revisions of "F-86F-30 (Japan)"
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* Decent radar | * Decent radar | ||
* Clear cockpit view for simulator battle | * Clear cockpit view for simulator battle | ||
| + | * Cannot face Su-25k and 30G all Aspect missiles | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
* Easy to rip off the wings with high-speed manoeuvres (realistic and simulator battles) | * Easy to rip off the wings with high-speed manoeuvres (realistic and simulator battles) | ||
| − | * This plane can match up against higher tier jets with afterburner and air-to-air missiles, like MiG-21s, Harriers | + | * This plane can match up against higher tier jets with afterburner and air-to-air missiles, like MiG-21s, Harriers etc. |
* Low ammo count equates to only 15-second burst | * Low ammo count equates to only 15-second burst | ||
Revision as of 09:27, 19 November 2023
| This page is about the Japanese jet fighter F-86F-30 (Japan). For other versions, see F-86 (Family). |
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Contents
Description
The F-86F-30 ("NA-191" as North American called it) was the first Sabre to be built with bombing in mind. Earlier Sabres had pitiful endurance when carrying bombs, which became an issue. This led to North American designing the NA-191, which had four hardpoints, either for more fuel or bombs. The combat range was greatly increased, which remedied the main issue of the Sabre's role as a fighter-bomber. The F-86F-30 would soon find a home in Japan. Although Japan was not allowed to have an air force after the war, Allied nations eased up on the restriction and allowed the Japan Air Self Defence Force in 1953. A year later, after the air force was established, they picked the F-86F to be their main fighter. 29 F-86F-25/30s were brought in from US surplus. Many early F-86Fs were brought up to the F-40 standard, which featured improved handling with leading-edge slats.
Introduced in Update 1.39, the F-86F-30 Sabre ▅ is a fairly good fighter. Thanks to its sleek design and swept-wings, the F-86F-30 can reach speeds in excess of 1,100 km/h (683 mph). However, the J47 engine has relatively low thrust output, and it takes time to reach significant speeds. One of the main advantages of the F-86 Sabre is its impressive roll rate. Many aircraft at its battle rating will not be able to compete with it, especially MiG-15s. The F-86F-30 has the standard armament of six nose-mounted 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns, which have significant range but lack stopping power. This is one of the few downsides of the Sabre, but it is compensated for by the large ammunition pool. Overall, the F-86F-30 Sabre ▅ is a powerful aircraft that can also be used as a fighter-bomber.
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 1,095 | 1,089 | 14700 | 24.7 | 25.9 | 38.8 | 35.9 | 750 |
| Upgraded | 1,115 | 1,106 | 23.6 | 24.0 | 56.5 | 46.7 | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 1,170 | 350 | 590 | 550 | 350 | ~11 | ~6 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 850 | < 600 | < 650 | N/A |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Empty mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||
| General Electric J47-GE-27 | 1 | 5,430 kg | 239 kg/m2 | |||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | ||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 7m fuel | 20m fuel | 26m fuel | ||
| 1,150 kg | Axial-flow turbojet | 5,787 kg | 6,429 kg | 6,726 kg | 9,530 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%) | |||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 7m fuel | 20m fuel | 26m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 2,626 kgf | N/A | 0.45 | 0.41 | 0.39 | 0.28 |
| Optimal | 2,626 kgf (0 km/h) |
N/A | 0.45 | 0.41 | 0.39 | 0.28 |
Survivability and armour
- 6.35 mm steel - in front of cockpit
- 12.7 mm steel - behind pilot
- 38 mm steel - armoured windscreen
- 20 mm steel pilot's headrest
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Offensive armament
The F-86F-30 (Japan) is armed with:
- 6 x 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 1,800 total)
Suspended armament
The F-86F-30 (Japan) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 16 x HVAR rockets
- 2 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (1,500 lb total)
- 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (2,000 lb total)
Usage in battles
While the F-86F-30's acceleration and top speed are lacking compared to its contemporaries, the F-86F-30's slats allow the plane to have an outstanding manoeuvrability. That said, one must beware of their speed as pulling high manoeuvres at high and max speed can put the plane under great stress which leads to the wings falling apart. The outstanding manoeuvrability comes at the cost of speed. Pulling hard turns will bleed your airspeed. Try to climb up before engaging the enemy to ensure you have enough energy to get out of a sticky situation. Hopefully, there will be a furball underneath you where you would be able to pounce on low-energy fighters with your guns. One advantage the F-86 has over the jets of other nations is the large ammo count of its 6 x .50 cals (1,800) although it would be wise to try and hit most of your shots. Try staying above 500 km/h as any slower and you would lose a significant amount of energy in a prolonged turn.
Radars
The F-86F-30 is equipped with an AN/APG-30 rangefinding radar, located in the nose of the aircraft. It will automatically detect other planes within the scanning area and display the range to the closest target. It is linked with a gyro gunsight and can help with aiming at close range.
| AN/APG-30 - Rangefinding radar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Tracking Range |
Minimum Tracking Range |
Azimuth Tracking Angle |
Elevation Tracking Angle |
| 2,750 m | 300 m | ±9° | ±9° |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Great roll rate
- Retains energy well in turns and vertical manoeuvres
- Decent turn time for jet
- Good acceleration
- Decent armament 12.7 mm M3 with a high rate of fire
- Can carry bombs or rockets
- Decent radar
- Clear cockpit view for simulator battle
- Cannot face Su-25k and 30G all Aspect missiles
Cons:
- Easy to rip off the wings with high-speed manoeuvres (realistic and simulator battles)
- This plane can match up against higher tier jets with afterburner and air-to-air missiles, like MiG-21s, Harriers etc.
- Low ammo count equates to only 15-second burst
History
Following the Japanese defeat and the end of the Second World War, Japan was prohibited from maintaining armed forces of its own. Following the disbanding of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy in 1945, this decision was written into law in the 1947 Constitution. While the original article declared that Japan would never resort to war as an instrument to settle disputes and would never maintain land, sea or air forces or other instruments of war, later on the exact meaning of this article was questioned by successive governments as it meant Japan was fully dependent on the occupying Allied forces to come to its defence in case of an armed conflict. The outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 only furthered this concern, and a new interpretation of the constitutional article came into being: while Japan was prohibited from maintaining an offensive force, the article did not state that they were also prohibited from maintaining a purely defensive force.
The formal establishment of a mutual defence clause in the 1951 US-Japan Peace treaty led to the founding of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in 1954, with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force being its air component. As a result of negotiations concerning the founding of the JASDF, it was eventually decided that the new armed force would use the North American F-86F as its standard day-fighter, with license production being undertaken by Mitsubishi in the form of assembly of knock-down kits produced by the North American factory in California. However, as it would take time for production to start, the decision was taken to hand over USAF aircraft to the nascent JASDF pending the arrival of the first domestically-produced F-86Fs. This first delivery included 30 North American F-86F Sabres and 55 Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star jet-trainers.
The official handover of the first seven F-86Fs for the JASDF took place at Kisarazu Base on December 1st 1955; the last of the 30 aircraft was handed over four months later in April of 1956. This first tranche of 30 aircraft, consisting of 10 F-86F-25-NHs and 20 F-86F-30-NAs, was originally used as a stop-gap pending the delivery of the F-86F-40 variant intended for the JASDF. These aircraft served to equip the 1st Air Wing, which was officially declared operational on October 1st 1956. In the four years they served as daylight fighters, 2 aircraft were written off in accidents. As soon as sufficient North American and Mitsubishi-produced Block-40 aircraft became available, the 28 surviving F-86F-25s and -30s were put into storage.
This was not the end of their story, as 18 aircraft were converted to RF-86F reconnaissance aircraft in 1961. These aircraft were used to equip the 501st Squadron where they would have a surprisingly long career: the last of these RF-86Fs were only withdrawn from service in 1979.
The following F-86Fs were transferred from the USAF to the JASDF:
- F-86F-25-NH: 51-13361; 51-13368; 51-13369; 61-13376; 51-13385; 51-13390; 51-13414; 51-13474; 52-5327; 52-5439
- F-86F-30-NA: 52-4542; 52-4618; 52-4679; 52-4684; 52-4693; 52-4699; 52-4705; 52-4708; 52-4745; 52-4758; 52-4836; 52-4844; 52-4845; 52-4905; 52-4909; 52-4913; 52-4914; 52-4916; 52-4923; 52-4939
These aircraft were (randomly) renumbered in JASDF service as 52-7401/7409 and 62-7410/7430. Aircraft later converted to RF-86F standard were renumbered from the x2-74xx to x2-64xx.
Media
- Skins
See also
- Related development
- Canadair Sabre (those Sabres manufactured with the designator "CL")
- North American F-86D Sabre
- North American F-100 Super Sabre
- North American FJ-4 Fury
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Dassault Super Mystère
- Grumman F-9 Cougar
- Hawker Hunter
- Lavochkin La-15
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
- Saab J29 Tunnan
External links
| North American Aviation | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | |
| P-51A | P-51 · P-51A |
| P-51C | P-51C-10 |
| P-51D | P-51D-5 · P-51D-10 · P-51D-20-NA · P-51D-30 |
| P-51H | P-51H-5-NA |
| Twin-engine fighters | F-82E |
| Jet fighters | F-86A-5 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-35 · F-100D |
| Strike aircraft | A-36 · PBJ-1H · PBJ-1J |
| FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232 | |
| Bombers | B-25J-1 · B-25J-20 |
| Export/Licence | ▂B-25J-30 · ␗B-25J-30 |
| ▄Mustang Mk IA · F-6C-10-NA · ␗P-51C-11-NT · ␗P-51D-20 · J26 David · J26 · P-51D-20-NA · ␗P-51K | |
| F-86F-30 ▅ · ␗F-86F-30 · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅ · ␗F-86F-40 | |
| ◄F-86K · ▄F-86K (Italy) · ▄F-86K (France) | |
| ␗F-100A · ▄F-100D · ␗F-100F | |
| Captured | ▅P-51C-11-NT |
| Canadair Limited license-built the F-86 as the CL-13 for use in Canada and export to Europe. | |
| Fiat license-built the F-86K for the Italian Air Force though another 120 NAA built F-86Ks were also sold to the Italians. | |
| See Also | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Canadair Limited · Fiat Aviation |
| Japan jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
| IJNAS | |
| Experimental | Kikka |
| Reconnaissance | R2Y2 Kai V1 · R2Y2 Kai V2 · R2Y2 Kai V3 |
| IJAAS | |
| Fighters | Ki-200 |
| JASDF | |
| Fighters | F-86F-30 ▅ · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅ |
| F-104J | |
| F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · F-4EJ Kai Phantom II | |
| F-15J · F-15J(M) | |
| F-16AJ | |
| F-1 | |
| Trainers | T-2 Early · T-2 |
| Foreign | |
| Thailand | ▄AV-8S · ▄F-5E FCU |
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