F-86L on display at the Iowa City Airport after the 2015 Restoration
The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept wing fighter that could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high-speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War (1950–1953). Considered one of the best and most important fighter aircraft in that war, the F-86 is also rated highly in comparison with fighters of other eras. Although it was developed in the late 1940s and was outdated by the end of the '50s, the Sabre proved versatile and adaptable, and continued as a front-line fighter in numerous air forces until the last active operational examples were retired by the Bolivian Air Force in 1994.
The North American F-86D Sabre (sometimes called the "Sabre Dog") was a transonic jet all-weather interceptor of the United States Air Force and others. Based on North American's F-86 Sabre day fighter, the F-86D had only 25 percent commonality with other Sabre variants, with a larger fuselage, larger afterburner engine, and a distinctive nose radome. The F-86L like Upgrade conversion of F-86D with new electronics, extended wingtips and wing leading edges, revised cockpit layout, and uprated engine; 981 converted
Service History:
- 1953: Constructed as a F-86D-55-NA by North American at Inglewood, CA
- 1956: Converted to F-86L
- 1958: Transferred to Iowa ANG 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (132nd Tactical Fighter Group), Iowa ANG, Des Moines, IA
- 1963: Struck from the U.S. Air Force
- 1963: Transferred to University of Iowa for display
- 1972: Restored. Aircraft displayed at Iowa City Airport, dedicated to Vietnam POW and MIA's on 14 Oct 1972.
- 1977: The aircraft had deteriorated and was moved to a salvage yard in Coralville, IA, with wings and tail sawed off. On Apr 21, 1977 veterans groups challenged the Airport Commissions decision, and the Commission agreed to let the aircraft be refurbished and be placed at the Airport as part of a memorial for all wars.
- 1977: Restored by All Iowa Body of Cedar Rapids.
- 1978: Placed on display at Iowa City Airport on 24 April 1978.
- 1978: Damaged on 10 May 1978. Aircraft was vandalized by anti-military person, with paint spatter. On Aug 31, 1978 the judgment against the vandal led to questioning the ownership and responsibility of the plane. The AFROTC, airport commission, the city, and even the University had been responsible at one time or another. No decision was made at that time as to ownership.
- 1978: Damaged. Another vandal spattered the plane with several cans of paint and broke the canopy.
- 1980: Repaired. Aircraft was given a new paint job and the canopy repaired. Markings applied 30750.
- 1992: National Museum of the Air Force Loan Program assigned to Iowa City Airport Commission.
- 1996: The Iowa City Airport Commission proposed moving the aircraft about 15 miles NW to Greencastle Airport, apparently desiring to get out of the responsibility for the aircraft. Johnson County veterans groups at this time took responsibility for the aircrafts upkeep, and the aircraft was then moved to its current location, mounted at the airport entrance.
- 2015: Restored.
To locate the cache you will need to find out a little more about the Iowa City Airport.
First find out what the Automated Surface Observation Station's frequency is. The frequency is ABC.DEF. Now use those numbers to solve for the final. The cache is located at:
N 41° (A+B)C.(C-F)EE W 091° (E-F+A)B.(C-F)E(E+A-F)
The cache is hidden on the airport property and placed with their permission. There is no need to climb on the aircraft.
Painting of an Iowa Air National Guard F-86L of the 124th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Aviation Caches
Aviation Cache: A-7D Corsair II 71-0213
Aviation Cache: A-7D Corsair II 71-0334
Aviation Cache: A-7D Corsair II 71-0254
Aviation Cache: And Then There Were Three
Aviation Cache: AH-1 Cobra
Aviation Cache: Ames Municipal / Wearth Airport
Aviation Cache: B-17F 42-30535
Aviation Cache: B-17G 42-97224
Aviation Cache: B-24 41-29052 Crash Site
Aviation Cache: The Cyclone Post
Aviation Cache: F-86L Sabre 53-0750
Aviation Cache: Aviation Cache: F-80 Midair Collision 10/22/1954
Aviation Cache: Hap Westbrook
Aviation Cache: Hunter Field
Aviation Cache: I Hear The Choppers Coming
Aviation Cache: Lamotte Air Defense Radar Station
Aviation Cache: MERLE
Aviation Cache: Morningstar Field / North Field
Aviation Cache: NAS Ottumwa
Aviation Cache: NAS Ottumwa Auxiliary Airfield #10
Aviation Cache: The Parakeet Casualty
Aviation Cache: Phantom
Aviation Cache: Scorpion Down - December 9, 1968
Aviation Cache: The Silent Knights
Aviation Cache: T-33 Shooting Star 51-4406
Aviation Cache: T-33 Shooting Star 53-5916
Aviation Cache: T-33 Shooting Star 58-0579
Aviation Cache: Thunderflash
Aviation Cache: Thunderstreak
Aviation Cache: The Vantage