This North American F-86F Sabre was on display at the Musée royal de l’armée et de l’histoire militaire or Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
The North American F-86F Sabre was a key U.S. Air Force jet fighter that rose to prominence during the Korean War. As America’s first swept-wing fighter, its design was influenced by captured German aerodynamic research, which helped it overcome the drag that had limited earlier straight-wing jets. The F-86F variant, in particular, featured a more powerful General Electric J47 engine and an improved wing design that enhanced its high-speed performance and maneuverability. In the skies over “MiG Alley,” the F-86F went head-to-head with the Soviet-built MiG-15. While the MiG had a higher ceiling and faster climb rate, the F-86’s superior pilot training, handling at high speeds, and advanced gunsight gave it a decisive advantage, leading to a highly favorable kill ratio and cementing its legacy as one of the most important aircraft of the early jet age.