QF-86F

 

The QF-86F was the last aircraft I flew in the Navy. It was also one of the most fun. A Korean War vintage design, these were built under contract with North American after the war by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Mattel, in the real time telling). The Japanese used them until they replaced them, and we bought them back for a dollar and put them into the remote piloted target aircraft program.

The aircraft was very forgiving compared to most modern designs. You could fly it at high angles of attack like you were sitting in your rocker on the porch. There was one feature, however, that was not very forgiving. The engine idled at 34% RPM. Compare that to the A7E that idled at 76%. What that tells you is that engine wind up time is not measured with a watch, but a calendar. If you got back on the power close the ground and needed some, it could be a bad ride. The aircraft bred confidence long before one was competent.

Since we were flying these both manned and unmanned, we got to see what a beating they could take and keep on ticking. Unmanned I have seen the aircraft pull nine g’s and not even shudder. One problem we had was that those who flew modern aircraft and were younger than these airplanes could not comprehend that the lowly F-86 could out turn them. It did cause some problems. The pictures below were from a late Sidewinder shot that was supposed to track a towed IR plume. It did, right through the tail of the aircraft. It was shot up bad enough that we scrambled the next shot, which was a production test shot up the tail. The Sidewinder (no warhead on either of these) went up the tail pipe and out the bottom of the stove pipe. It was still flying so we brought it back. It did not have a lot of power but it made it. 

While on deployment in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, we offered up services for a new version the SM-2 Standard Missile. That missile climbed to about 100,000 feet and then dove down to intercept the jet. Again, no warhead here, but a skin to skin hit, knocking the right elevator off the aircraft.

Once again the aircraft flew home and was repaired to fly another day. Tough little birds for sure.

 

On a different Sidewinder shot the telemetry payload equipped missile tracked beautifully and when it got close corrected for the best IR target, the sun on the canopy. Good thing there was no pilot in there, or someone would be cleaning out the cockpit!

We made a lot of presentations out of Pt. Mugu, flying the drones off of San Nicolas Island.

It always looked strange, having the pilotless aircraft lead the piloted one around.

Occasionally the crew would get pre-occupied while waiting for things to happen or not remember to turn the radio on or up. Then one had to get their attention.

I got to fly up to my brother’s wedding in Reno. The next morning following a very fun reception, we all staggered out to the airport for a few pictures prior to my departure. How she managed to stand up, let alone in high heels, was a matter of shear will, if my sorry shape was any indicator. I was glad I was sitting where I could not fall out!

Flying this aircraft cross country was always fun as the old warbird fans would always come out and take a look. On one flight to Chino, I spent a better part of the day before departing farther east to go to Rosey Roads. I had let them know my itinerary, and a few folks had lamented the aircraft’s most likely demise. As I taxied out I noticed about 50 guys and a couple of cars along the side of the runway. I called ground control and commented.

“There must be somebody or something pretty important landing soon, eh?”

“No sir, they are just here to say good by to your aircraft.”

All fifty smartly saluted as the QF-86 commenced its departure roll down the concrete. Very Nice! Dang near made me cry.