Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk.5, N8686F

by Jennings Heilig

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These two views show Boeing's long serving Canadair Sabre Mk.5, N8686F. Originally delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in February of 1954 with the Canadian serial number 23096, the aircraft eventually ended up with the famed RCAF Golden Hawks aerobatic team in 1959.

Delivered to Boeing in late 1962 and appropriately registered N8686F, the aircraft was modified to act as a chase, calibration, and photography platform. Careful study of almost all Boeing "first flight" photos show 86 Fox in the background. She participated in many Boeing flight test programs throughout the 1960s and early '70s.

For most of its life with Boeing, the aircraft was painted overall pale yellow with a cheatline of dark olive, white, and black. A camera bay was installed in the left hand gun bay, with a small fairing for the optical window on the gun bay door. Also visible is the canopy mounted camera system.

In 1972 the 86 Fox was repainted into the attractive red, white, and black scheme. By this time the gun bay camera setup had been removed, leaving only the canopy mounted system in place. The wings now had stripes, as did the ubiquitous drop tanks.

Boeing replaced this aircraft with another Mk.5 (upgraded with Mk.6 wings) in 1974, and it remained in use until the early 1990s. Boeing's chase, calibration, and photo work is now handled by another vintage warbird, a T-33A.

Text and Images Copyright © 2003 by Jennings Heilig
Page Created 22 March, 2003
Last updated 22 March, 2003

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