Warbird Information Exchange

My wife and I were passing through Brazil, Indiana yesterday, where F-86F 52-5434 is displayed in front of the Clay County courthouse. We've passed it many times, but this time I decided to stop and snap some pics. The aircraft is painted dark metallic gray, with the gun port panels left bare stainless. It's in very rough shape..the paint is chipped, tires flat, gear struts covered with rust, windscreen plexi badly yellowed and crazed and cockpit completely stripped. I don't know much about Sabres, but the canopy shape looks odd to me..I wonder if it's a homemade replacement (especially since it's so clear.)





There's a nice little memorial in front of the plane.



Here's the cockpit..a fair bit of corrosion is visible along the lower edges of the canopy.





The aircraft is obviously an empty shell, but it would still be nice to see her at least cosmetically restored and out of the weather. 20-30 years ago, it was common to see retired '50s fighters displayed at courthouses, American Legions, and VFWs. Some have gone to museums, but sadly most eventually went so far downhill they were scrapped. I fear this aircraft is headed for the latter fate.

SN

<DISCLAIMER> This post is in no way intended to re-ignite the "Static vs Flying" flame war. I just wanted to bring some attention to an aircraft desparately in need of some TLC before it's lost forever.

Thanks for posting that, Steve. Dang, I hate seeing it in that condition though. And the sad part is, (even though it's obviously not always the case) if you tried to offer to help them fix it up, they'd likely turn you away. Been there, done that.

Gary

Good pics Steve, thanks for sharing. It is sad to see that she's not getting the TLC she deserves...

-Derek

Another group of people that just had to have an airplane, but now won't take care of it

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Yeah but if they didn't, it probability be a beer can somewhere in the world. At least this way it's still around for you!!!

That is just a start. Now they have to upkeep it at least some. You can't just adopt a dog from the pound and then turn it lose and say there I did my part.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Oh I'm sure the those who originally put the plane there had the best of intentions, but it's definately in need of rescue now. I don't know when it was put on the display, but at the time it was probably just another old airplane, and not even all that rare. I remember when I was a kid in the '70s the F-84F had recently been phased out of ANG service, and it seemed like every public building or veterans' club had one on the lawn. Nobody really considered them particularly valuable at the time.

SN

MAYBE, someone near it could ASK, they might say yes? worth a try I think.
JOHN

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Remember, the propeller is only there to keep the pilot cool.If you don't believe me, have it stop and watch the pilot start sweating!

A lot of the Gate guards and planes on sticks are still owned by the USAF Museum and on their inventory. If the plane is in disrepair, the museum could be notified and ask for it to be assigned elsewhere. I tried this with two F-101s in Gila Bend but was turned down only after the city promised to clean them up and paint them which they did. If you want to transport and clean up the F-86, contact the museum and see if is still in their in inventory and send them the pics. Maybe this will work toward saving the Saber. Am I correct on this Mustangdriver?

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The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

100% correct. I did the same with the F-86 at Beaver Airport. The museum will provide paint and supplies to fix up the planes from time to time as they did with the Beaver aircraft years ago. Sometimes a nudge from the NMUSAF will get peole working on the plane, and attention in the community. Or it will be moved to another museum that may give it the proper care it deserves.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Thanks for posting those pictures, Steve. It's too bad the little jet is looking so neglected. I hate to admit it, but I immediately started to think of all the little panels and fairings I could use off that airframe for our Bolivian Sabre.

Scott

You think this could work for the Sabrehog at Lunken, too?

I do. ALot of people are not fans of the General, BUT he is all for craking down on aircraft not being taken care of. He is trying very hard to come down on these static aircraft at public places to either get some attention or get reassigned. He is all for preserving the aircraft. Just as it says in our daily brriefing at the museum, these aircraft are not playgrounds, but memorials to honor the men that flew, crewed, and worked on these aircraft. The aircraft assigned to gate guard status at bases, are only partly under control of the NMUSAF, and also the USAF. But the ones at VFW's and such are.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Okay, I'll bite.......

Mustangdriver, who do I need to contact at the museum to discuss this F-86 with then? PM me with the details if you wish.

Gary

Let me take Gary's idea one step further, and I'm not being tongue-in-cheek, just asking a serious question that has been gnawing at me since Steve started this thread:

Suppose someone was restoring an F-86 and needed various small fairings, gear doors, etc for a flyable restoration project. Then suppose that the airplane on display at the courthouse, but still under Air Force Museum control, has the parts needed for the flyer. My question: What would be the result if the restorers asked the NMUSAF for permission to take the "real" parts from a display aircraft that is obviously never going to fly again and replace these parts with accurate replica non-airworthy pieces. As part of the bargain, the restorers would offer to cosmetically restore the courthouse airplane to an acceptable display standard. Do you think something like this scenario would be possible in the General's world, Chris?

Thanks for the consideration, and it isn't an offer but something I've thought about recently.
Scott