Doug Matthews' F-86F Sabre Restoration

[jcochr50]

Great news that apparently this beautiful restoration project is near completion and that the first post-restoration flight in Florida may be as soon as next month!

Can't wait to see this one fly.

http://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restora ... pdate.html

This may make possibly FIVE airworthy yellow banded checker tail Sabres which increases the possibility of seeing a 4-ship formation in this paint scheme at an air show one of these days!

And add in Greg Colyer's yellow banded checker tail Ace Maker T-33's....and Wow!

[jcochr50]

Great news that apparently this beautiful restoration project is near completion and that the first post-restoration flight in Florida may be as soon as next month!

Can't wait to see this one fly.

http://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restora ... pdate.html

This may make possibly FIVE airworthy yellow banded checker tail Sabres which increases the possibility of seeing a 4-ship formation in this paint scheme at an air show one of these days!

And add in Greg Colyer's yellow banded checker tail Ace Maker T-33's....and Wow!

http://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restora ... inent.html

Haven't heard a THING regarding Doug Matthews' Beauteous Butch F-86F Sabre in almost a YEAR!

Does anyone know whether it has actually had engine runs, taxi runs or has flown yet?? I am sure that progress with it has been impacted by COVID-19, but I thought we would have had a status update by now.

Originally the plans were to have it ready to fly at the March 2019 Space Coast Warbird show in Titusville and at Sun 'n Fun in April 2019!

[GRNDP51]

Great news that apparently this beautiful restoration project is near completion and that the first post-restoration flight in Florida may be as soon as next month!

Can't wait to see this one fly.

http://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restora ... pdate.html

This may make possibly FIVE airworthy yellow banded checker tail Sabres which increases the possibility of seeing a 4-ship formation in this paint scheme at an air show one of these days!

And add in Greg Colyer's yellow banded checker tail Ace Maker T-33's....and Wow!

I think this will actually make 6 yellow band Sabre’s. POF, Lewis, WHF, and Friedkin has 2 of ‘em

[quemerford]

I think this will actually make 6 yellow band Sabre’s. POF, Lewis, WHF, and Friedkin has 2 of ‘em

Disappointing; of the thousands of F-86 colour schemes, we end up with six looking pretty much the same. One day, with luck, we'll see these aircraft painted correctly!

[jcochr50]

I think this will actually make 6 yellow band Sabre’s. POF, Lewis, WHF, and Friedkin has 2 of ‘em

Disappointing; of the thousands of F-86 colour schemes, we end up with six looking pretty much the same. One day, with luck, we'll see these aircraft painted correctly!

I Agree - it would be nice to see some more varied paint schemes on existing and future airworthy Sabres. But one potential nice thing about all the yellow banded F-86's is that they would make a great stable for a future movie about the USAF in the Korean War that focused on Sabres vs. MiG-15's as a significant theme.

[quemerford]

I think this will actually make 6 yellow band Sabre’s. POF, Lewis, WHF, and Friedkin has 2 of ‘em

Disappointing; of the thousands of F-86 colour schemes, we end up with six looking pretty much the same. One day, with luck, we'll see these aircraft painted correctly!

I Agree - it would be nice to see some more varied paint schemes on existing and future airworthy Sabres. But one potential nice thing about all the yellow banded F-86's is that they would make a great stable for a future movie about the USAF in the Korean War that focused on Sabres vs. MiG-15's as a significant theme.

...and the Sabres could play the MiGs too!

[Chris Brame]

No, we need to follow classic Hollywood tradition and get some F-84Fs restored to play the MiGs!

[Kyleb]

I think this will actually make 6 yellow band Sabre’s. POF, Lewis, WHF, and Friedkin has 2 of ‘em

Disappointing; of the thousands of F-86 colour schemes, we end up with six looking pretty much the same. One day, with luck, we'll see these aircraft painted correctly!

I Agree - it would be nice to see some more varied paint schemes on existing and future airworthy Sabres. But one potential nice thing about all the yellow banded F-86's is that they would make a great stable for a future movie about the USAF in the Korean War that focused on Sabres vs. MiG-15's as a significant theme.

There are enough -15's and -17's around you could probably do that. Better do it quick though, lots of those airplanes are just sitting right now. New owners buy cheap jets and later realize what a step-up it is to move from whatever they were flying to something with a bang seat, both in pilot skills required and in operating expenses.

[bdk]

No, we need to follow classic Hollywood tradition and get some F-84Fs restored to play the MiGs!

Or paint some MiGs to represent the Sabres and have them battle the F-84s?

[Matt_in_NC]

What we really need is a black/ grey Bell 222 to be chasing the -84s and -86s. Hmmmmmm

[dors]

I'd rather get some F-84's flying for a crappy movie than use real Migs for a good movie.

[wendovertom]

I'd rather get some F-84's flying for a crappy movie than use real Migs for a good movie.

TOTALLY!!

Tom P.

[JohnB]

What we really need is a black/ grey Bell 222 to be chasing the -84s and -86s. Hmmmmmm

A (very) minor claim to fame: I saw the real Airwolf...it's color was a dark anthracite (with light metallic) with off-white undersides.

[CAPFlyer]

While I understand why the airframe wasn't "kept back" after the show since the mods were all "bolt-on" exterior parts, I always loved that it ended up going to Germany and being a real hero as a Medivac. Unfortunately, it crashed and the 3 crew onboard were lost when it crashed in fog on June 6, 1992.

Also, the color was officially "Phantom Gray Metallic" / DuPont Imron 5031X with a custom shaded pearl-grey belly (https://web.archive.org/web/20070830074 ... ssues.html the "Wolf's Lair" magazine had extensive information about the modifications and paint for modellers and such).

[marine air]

So, am I understanding this correctly, all F-86’s with a combat paint scheme invoke the yellow band? Why was yellow the “ go to “ color? What if someone painted an F-86 as Navy or Marine FJ-3. That would be nice.