How do I land? Adventure in an F-86

[@loose-arrow-garage]

I was an Air Force mechanic/Crew Chief on F-16s. I would often do engine runs after maintenance and at times I was allowed to do taxi checks. I must say there were times when I was just a little bit tempted to takeoff, but I knew it would be suicidal. On an annual basis we had to recertify our engine run skills using the same simulator that pilots use. It was there after some free time, that I was able to "steal" an F-16. Having a private pilot license and knowledge of the controls I was able to takeoff and land it without crashing. Later in my career I got a backseat incentive ride in one. What a blast!

[@SteveDave29]

❤

[@johnbeckman492]

Are you Dave Hartwig?​@@SteveDave29

[@simonrancourt7834]

The F-16's first flight was accidental. During high speed taxi tests, the plane simple took off.

[@tygrkhat4087]

I have a friend who is an Air Force vet and he got an incentive ride in an F-14. I bought him a scale model of an F-14 and by sheer coincidence, he was able to build the same plane he rode in.

[@johngayder9249]

What is an “incentive ride”?

[@robertjensen1438]

"Dad, I want to be a fighter pilot when I grow up!" "You can't do both, son."

[@ThinWhiteAxe]

Lol! As a musician I've heard the "guitarist" variation of this.

[@terriecotham1567]

good one

[@terriecotham1567]

@@ThinWhiteAxe well said

[@BogeyTheBear]

"When I was a boy, I had only two dreams: To command a fighter squadron and to run my very own junkyard. Thanks to the Navy, I got to do both."

[@tpobrienjr]

There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots.

[@caroletomlinson5480]

In 1952 in first grade, at 6 years of age, when all of us little students were resting our heads on our desks, I suddenly stood up and twirled around in a circle. No one but the bemused teacher saw, and she just nodded once as I obediently sat back down. In a moment of quiet, I just wanted to see if my circular skirt would twirl. Youthful exuberance and tolerant leaders warm my heart. 💃🏻

[@jackreacher.]

... do it again ....

[@IAmJaguarPaw.ThisIsMyForest.]

What a poetic comment amid the pedestrian pack of all the rest.....like mine......

[@jackreacher.]

​@@IAmJaguarPaw.ThisIsMyForest. ...orator fit, poeta nascitur ....

[@Paladin1873]

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Now how do I get back down?

[@susanadams-wauro6716]

Indeed!

[@jojobar5877]

That poem (or part of it) was written on the manila folder the Air Force gave me when I joined up and was processing in at AFEES in Detroit in 1978. It held all the paperwork I needed. I remember sitting around for hours staring at that poem (hurry up and wait). How boring, no cell phones or magazines around. Never forgot that. I was 17.

[@Paladin1873]

@@jojobar5877 While I was preparing to retire from active duty at the Pentagon in 2007 I learned the USAF History Office had a copy of the old F-104 video of the poem in their data files. At the time I could not find it on YT so I downloaded it as a keepsake. I had fond memories from my youth of watching it late at night when one of our local TV stations near Tyndall AFB would play it just before they signed off the air. I still have it and consider it the finest rendition of the poem. Today anyone can see it on YT thanks to the AIRBOYD channel having posted it on YT about 13 years ago.

[@MadMonk67]

Yeah, but did you put out your hand and touch the face of God? 😀 I only know of this sonnet from when they used to play it at the end of the broadcast day on TV, right before the national anthem played. It had an impact on me even as a child.

[@Paladin1873]

@@MadMonk67 No, but a couple of times I made the sign of the cross.

[@230arnie]

I was a USAF A-10A mechanic from the late 80's until 2000 and remember hearing a "story" about a mechanic who took a fighter aircraft for a flight. I always thought it was one of "those" stories and wasnt really true. Lo and behold it was!

[@alexsis1778]

A much more terrifying version was Taffy Holden's 1966 flight in the English Electric Lightning. He accidentally locked the throttle into the afterburner detent during a test run for a fault that would only occur at speed. He took off with the canopy removed and without a headset, so he had no radio. The ejection seat was also safed and the landing gear was locked in the down position due to a test mode. He was forced to try and land it completely by himself. He made it down on his third attempt but struck the tail on the ground because his only experience was in single engine tail wheel trainers. The tail strike broke off the rubber tail bumper and knocked off his drogue chute. He managed to stop 100 yards short of the end of the runway. The plane was repaired and put back into service and he wasn't punished. As a mechanic you would probably be interested to know the problem was the result of the wires being left behind from a removed ground test button which was shorting on the UHF radio housing when it moved under high acceleration.

[@bachonysus4548]

I joined the Air National Guard in 1959 and at that time we had F89s, however,, shortly we got F86 D's and L;s. A yaer or so later we were having an Air Show and Bob Hoover was one of the mainattractions. There had been a long standing argument as to whether or not the F86 could go straight up or not. Bob said that it was possible and was given permission to give it a try. One of the things required to do to an F86 before it could climb at such a steep angle was to look the radar antena so it wouldn't be damaged, as a radar mechanic I was given that task. Bob climbed in the plane, in just his street cloths, strapped himself in and took off. Bob did indeed take the F86 straight up, that settled the argument. What a wonderful man and plane. Thank you so much fur this episode.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Cool story. Thank you for sharing.

[@tonyrollman3991]

Had the pleasure of watching Bob Hoover fly the Rockwell international p-51 mustang

[@DeconvertedMan]

Thank you for your service. :)

[@johnanon6938]

There is a 240p video from early days of YT of a 1961 film titled - BOB HOOVER Demonstrating the F-86F Low res was common a decade back but I sure wish there was a high res version on yt now, still can't go wrong giving it a watch cause Bob made flying look graceful.

[@bachonysus4548]

@@johnanon6938 Thanks for the reply, The video was great despite the low rez.

[@johnnyreno7200]

I know this stunt put people's lives at stake but, I couldn't help that it put a smile on my face. This guy lived more life in an hour than some of us do in a lifetime.

[@lancerevell5979]

Luckily there were no ice cream shops nearby..... 😮

[@sheilatruax6172]

That would have been wonderful! I was denied fighter pilot training because of corrective lenses, iin the 70s. Grumble,!

[@robbchastain3036]

I was enlisted Army in '82 at Ft. Leavenworth where small planes were constantly heard and seen overhead. It was the Ft. Leavenworth Flying Club and one day I walked down to the small airfield and inquired about it and what a deal, for 20-bucks an hour I could fly a Cessna 150 with instruction by Air Force jet pilots and Army helicopter pilots, Vietnam combat veterans who were enrolled in the Command and General Staff College. Those gentlemen were the greatest instructors any student pilot could have, very cool in the passenger seat and very calm with their commands. "Steeper...steeper..." And ha, I thought I was flying straight into the runway when they'd finally say, "Okay, now pull up" and we'd touch down on the rear wheels. By the end of the year I was sent to the Pentagon, no more flying small planes, yet I still appreciate the privilege of that experience as a recreational pursuit.

[@XAirForcedotcom]

I also went on active duty in January 1982. I did public address set ups as ground radio maintenance to include a 90 during the air war when I was stationed at RAF Mildenhall, so I was lucky enough to see all of the aircraft up close. I got to fly the T-37 simulator at Reese Air Force Base, what night when I was delivering parts after hours. I was supposed to get a incentive ride in an F-16 because I fixed there LST-5 SATCOM, and the F-16’s were there to guard them when we were in Oman in around 97. So now I fly virtually in DCS World, to include the F 86, which is really fun because it isn’t super fast but very maneuverable. I think I’ve spent enough money that I could buy my own jet at this point. Lol

[@kurtvanluven9351]

Best $ deal ever.

[@robbchastain3036]

@kurtvanluven9351 It was truly unbelievable, ten dollars to the instructor, ten dollars to the club, just pay per hour and nothing more. O and a small fee for the official Cessna student pilot kit with log for hours and manual and such In a red plastic satchel. And the instructors were always eager to go up, they were true aviators.

[@kurtvanluven9351]

@@robbchastain3036 They had demo rides on Speedway motorcycles. $20/5 laps. I crashed into the wall at 60mph, got up and asked for another bike. Why? You guys owe me 3 more laps. Yeah, I got kicked out!

[@gyrene_asea4133]

@@robbchastain3036 What a time! Back in the late 70's and early 80's, us lowly flight-crew enlisted were sometimes given "maintenance" stick time in our squadron's helos if we were a bit hard-corps and the HAC (pilot in command) was cool. Low hover was okay, landing was not. Semper Fi and to being young!

[@IMBlakeley]

RAF had a similar problem when Taffy Holden an mechanic inadvertently lit the afterburners on a lightening.

[@jbrhel]

THG did a video on that incident. Check it out.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWXHaImBq6xksJIsi=h_qeVf3evonpXbZN

[@grassroot011]

Was, Taffy a Welshman? Haa

[@oxcart4172]

Lightning (unless they took lots of stuff out of it!)

[@IMBlakeley]

@@oxcart4172 GPWM

[@sd906238]

George Welch was killed test flying an F-100 Super Sabre. Test flying was more dangerous than combat.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

He did. More on his story here: Two American Pilots and Pearl Harbor kzbin.info/www/bejne/sITZiqt-a8ykg8U

[@HM2SGT]

Indeed. RIP Dick Bong

[@TiesOfZip]

It still is lol

[@tomwarner2468]

The p-80 got Richard Bong,August 1945!

[@cbroz7492]

..the short 3 or 4 second clip.if that accident showed up in the movie "The Hunters" with Robert Mitchum and a VERY young Robert Wagner...

[@beth1966]

I was an engine mechanic and did runs on C-5, C-141, and F-111 aircraft. At no time did I even imagine flying one

[@DataRew]

My colorblind, 2-tour twin-Silver Star Thud pilot Grandfather would argue with him about the eye test... My gpa enlisted as a radioman on KC-97's, got a copy of the eye test, memorized it, and that's how he got to be a pilot. His colorblindness actually helped him see things that other pilots couldn''t see in Vietnam!

[@lonzo61]

I read a book about thirty years ago written by a guy who'd been a company commander of a rifle company in the ETO during WW2. He described how they had this guy who was colorblind who was used from time to time to spot enemy camouflaged positions. There was apparently enough difference in the camo materials used by the Germans that was plain for him to see, but that no one else was able to detect.

[@jon9021]

@@lonzo61 fascinating!

[@Houndini]

Happens more than you think.

[@jgalexander510]

It’s 8 AM, and I’ve already learned something new today. Thanks! Never thought about colorblindness being in advantage.. Pretty cool!

[@scoutrifle6827]

I find myself enjoying topics I have never had an interest in, just because of your vivid and engaging presentation.

[@Noneofyourbusiness2000]

🟫👃

[@TheStuport]

My Dad was a 30 year USAF Pilot and Officer. After Korea, he was stationed at Luke AFB in Arizona as a Squadron Leader in teaching Pilots from different NATO friendly Countries to the USA. He flew the F-86 back then. Unfortunately, during a maneuver, a pilot accidently shot my Dads plane and severely wounded his leg. He lost so much blood in minutes and he was temporarily blinded. Another Squadron leader heard his MAYDAY and came up along side him and proceeded to tell my Dad what his coordinates were while letting him know as easily as he could that his landing gear was torn up. Dad was talked down by his fellow Squadron Leader and ended up landing on the belly of the aircraft. This was eventually written up in Collier's Magazine and condensed in Reader's Digest under their "Drama In Real Life" series. Both stories were titled "Belly It In". Dad was able to have his leg saved and eventually flew helicopters for the majority of his flying days. IF he doesn't survive this event, me and my Twin brother and little sister are not here! He ended up receiving The Air Force's Distinguished Flying Cross. Forever and a day me and my siblings considered our Dad our very own Chuck Yeager!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I’d love to do an episode on your Father’s story. Please feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@jon9021]

That’s amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[@jon9021]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel so would I!

[@TheStuport]

@@jon9021 Salute Jon!👋

[@TheStuport]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I will follow up with my still living siblings and see what we can get to you Mr. Geiger. Dad has since gone to "Touch The Face Of God", but he would have absolutely loved your channel Sir! MOO From COW-lumbus, Ohio 👋

[@tracythorleifson]

What a great story! Dad was an RCAF Sabre pilot. He met and married my Mom while stationed in Zweibrucken, Germany. He went to radar school in Fort Huachuca, AZ, and my folks fell in love with the desert. After he mustered out of the service, my folks headed back to Arizona. I was born in Tucson a few years later. 😃

[@gyrene_asea4133]

Best to you and yours. One of the better origin stories for military types, eh?

[@1492tomato]

You sir are one of the best storytellers in media today. This was one of my favorites. While this stunt was stupid and dangerous, I can only imagine how this young man must have felt when that jet lifted. I'm no fan of stupid pranks but this one made me grin from ear to ear. I suspect, behind the scenes, a lot of senior officers were grinning as well. Thank you!

[@johncooper4637]

I had a cousin who was an F-86 pilot in Korea during the war (he also flew B-17s, P-51s and P-47s in WWII, 168 missions in all). We were stationed in Japan and when he came to Japan on R and R he let me sit in the seat of an F-86 during an airshow. I think I was 5 at the time.

[@wes_d]

It’s amazing that any of us survived our youth…and many didn’t. Excellent story.

[@timbrwolf1121]

The F86 really was an incredible bird. The fact that he seemed to have such an enjoyable time flying with no real experience. It's honestly a great advertisement for the aircraft.

[@markhughes7927]

..in my youth jobbing as an automated rolled towel deliverer by a wrong turn I accessed the runway area of Heathrow London. Have to confess that the fantastic idea of zooming my delivery van down a main runway crossed my mind…

[@ericthomsen9644]

My father was Army Air Corp during WWII. He was a base weatherman in Burma, but often helped out with plane maintenance since he had machinist experience in civilian life. He would also help taxiing planes back to their parking areas after maintenance. He often said it was very tempting to jam that throttle forward and take flight. He did manage to lift the tail one time, but if he took off he knew what the penalties were and never did.

[@GlowingTube]

I was 9 years old when a formation of CAC Avon powered Sabers flew over our school with a massive roar.

[@CameronMcCreary]

"The runway looked so good, I let'er go" made me laugh. 😅

[@markaustin643]

As a pilot and a USAF veteran (and son of an F-86 pilot who trained at Williams AFB), I loved this story. Keep up the good work. BTW - Your video from 5:35 to 5:55 is an F-84 (in Thunderbird paint scheme).

[@gyrene_asea4133]

So, 'ya noticed that one too. : ) I still just enjoy the hell out of the old 'heavy metal' b/w footage.

[@zZ55442]

This incident is the reason today USAF enlisted personnel are not allowed to taxi aircraft. I remember when we did an exercise with the Royal Australian AF. The USAF guys were all shocked the first time we saw the Australian enlisted guys taxiing their aircraft around. I was in the AF in the 90s and had the same bases Johnston had: Lackland - Chanute - Luke. RIP Chanute AFB.

[@loose-arrow-garage]

I was allowed to taxi F-16s in the ANG as a Crew Chief. That privilege was taken away in the early 90s.

[@scottrichardson8158]

Not to be pedantic; but this incident was not the actual reason why that restriction was put into place. Nobody was seriously hurt in this incident. The incident that put the hiatus on enlisted personnel taxing aircraft was due to a mechanic taking off and losing a C-130 (as well as himself though that loss was quite minor).

[@YeOldeTraveller]

Must have gotten really rattled as I found the plane easy to fly when I got the chance. I was stationed at Little Rock AFB where there were just a few around.

[@elrobo3568]

@@scottrichardson8158 The reason he was "lost" was being shot down.

[@jodicreager]

I grew up in Las Vegas in the 40's and 50's. Nellis Air Force Base was close by and they were flying these beauties as well as T -33 trainers ..I remember well them flying overhead and the absolute thrill that a young boy can achieve at such a wonderful site. We were lucky enough to have a few pilots from Nellis at that time visit our dinner table on a regular basis. This has always been one of my very favorite aircraft...thank you for sharing this story.

[@craighoover1495]

I enjoyed this as my father piloted the Sabre early in his career in the Air Force. He described a situation where he had to perform a landing at Eniwetok Island from 30K feet after loosing the engine. Lost a bucket, he said. He was assigned there temporarily from Williams AFB where he was performing air sampling during nuclear weapons testing. He said this was his favorite plane to fly.

[@daviddewey2107]

As a lifelong wannabe be pilot, who's only had a few lessons. This whole thing was very real to me. A wonderful episode.

[@brucesherman5625]

Thank you for another interesting and entertaining piece of history. It especially caught my interest as I too love flying.

[@ashtonbull5758]

Just imagine if the history guy was your neighbor how badass the barbecues would be.. so full of information I cannot get enough

[@rgs4x]

Growing up as a kid I was infatuated with the F-86. When I saw the John Wayne movie Jet Pilot I was hooked. I used to draw them daily.

[@antonleimbach648]

My dad was a Navy mechanic and eventually an Air Force crew chief from WWII Catalina PBY’s to KC-139’s. Knowing him I’m really surprised he never did this. He had tons of wacky stories of himself and his buddies during those years. I took him to an air show when he was getting pretty old and he walked right past the rope and up to a PBY and started to get in.

[@dlkline27]

Being retired Air Guard, I heard about this event but this is the first time I've heard a detailed account. Thank you for a fascinating story. P.S.: Our squadron flew a couple different versions of the F-86, the last being the F-86H.

[@vlmellody51]

I was a student at the University of Arizona when a fighter plane successfully avoided crashing into our dorm and landed on 6th street. The pilot was killed, but he saved many lives.

[@nonokodog622]

My wife's grand father few Sabers after the war. I have all his flight gear. In these trying times we really miss our grand parents.

[@georgeperkins4171]

I wonder if he logged that one hour of f86 flight time in his log book.

[@Twolegger]

There are a few hours that aren’t in my log book, though I never stole the aircraft involved. Ranks up there with my wedding and the birth of my children as the most unsurpassable moments of my life.

[@georgeperkins4171]

@@Twolegger I know. I used to find a way to work my pilots license into conversations early on. I did get to fly backseat in a ta4j shyhawk when I was an enlisted man. They allowed us to go thru seat check training. Unfortunately, that was B4 I had a license and I was real nervous

[@jonnybo5890]

My grandfather liked to tell the story of the F-86 that broke the sound barrier before Yeager in the Bell X-1. Officially, it never happened, but it did.

[@cbroz7492]

..in a dive...

[@stevenjones6490]

Great story. However, the aircraft taxiing out, at 5m35s and taking off at 9m50s, are F-84F Thunderstreaks. The Thunderbirds, in the video, flew them in 1955.

[@kh40yr]

They say a prototype F86 broke the sound barrier, just hours before Chuck did it in the Bell Aircraft. F-86 first flew Oct 1st, Chuck "officially" broke the sound barrier, on the 14th.

[@haraldd4838]

Again a pleasure to listen. Thank you

[@lancerevell5979]

I was a USAF avionics tech on T-33A jet trainers and the McDonnell F-101B/F Voodoo and Convair F-106A/B Delta Dart interceptors. On the T-33A it was so simple (a twoseat version of the venerable Lockheed F-80 fighter) we techs did a lot of crosstraining. I did some engine, electrical and hydraulic work on it. We would climb in and taxi a T-bird across the runway to the engine trim pad, or to the Compass Rose. It was one of the funner things we techs got to do. 😊 But we knew to NEVER try to fly it. 😮

[@mlewis8579]

My dad flew the 1oh wonder in the 60’s

[@robinwells8879]

I do love your gentle delivery style and choice of content. It never fails to please. 👍

[@rotorheadv8]

My dad flew the F86 in the 50s. Maj Ernest L. Bumgarner. Just an LT and Capt in those days. He was also a WW2 vet. Combat Engineer with the 1st Marine Div. He got out as a Sgt.

[@tzavitz]

As a young boy in the 60’s, my favorite book was “Sabre Jet Ace” by Charles Coombs. I loved that plane and read the book over and over

[@cw1245]

Similar thing happened in 1983/4 at El Toro CA. A Marine E4 air craft mechanic intentionally took off in an A4 at night and flew around the area and safety landed. I was in an infantry battalion at Camp Pendleton and one of our air officers was an A4 pilot. We gave him grief and said a corporal can do his job.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpbVpKmKl7OXeZIsi=cgZoMJgnGrA3kTWU

[@benparadude2028]

His name was Lipo Foote , he was in my unit and also my room mate….

[@rockhopper01]

Can’t stop the E4 Mafia! 😂

[@jon9021]

@@benparadude2028😮

[@RCAvhstape]

I thought he was a lance corporal at the time? He was a major sea story in the Air Wing for years.

[@shawnpeterson3386]

I originally read this story in Smithsonian Air and Space magazine. It's great to hear it narrated.

[@bobbyb.1743]

Dad had 109missions in the F-80 in Korea & transitioned into the F-86 when it came on-board. He spoke highly of the F-86D as “the hottest thing in the inventory” at the time. Such a great looking a/c and tough as nails!😊

[@larryjohnson7591]

As a crew chief on C-130's in the late 70's, because he did this, it was almost impossible to even turn the props on the plane without having the cops or the tower getting all kinds of excited. It took this long before enlisted people could even do an engine start on the flightline until 1978! And that was a 4-engine turboprop plane.

[@rackets001]

As an A&P certificated mechanic, I recall working a couple years for a regional airline. We were doing an engine test run after maintenance and taxied out to the run-up pad at the end of a busy airport runway. After our check out, we normally taxied back from whence we came using the same taxiway. This time, however, several commercial flights were lined up behind us. The only way back was using the runway. Air Traffic told us there was an aircraft on final, "without delay" taxi back on the runway to the nearest highspeed exit that was about 1 mile down said runway. We didn't want to obstruct a landing aircraft, so we spun up the engines of our CRJ700. Sitting in the copilot seat, I wasn't really paying attention to the airspeed, but we must have been going pretty fast, since the airplane called out "flaps config - flaps config!" Meaning that we were nearing takeoff speed, but we hadn't set the flaps for take-off, so we may run out of runway before we're airborne. We didn't get off the ground, but we taxied faster than I had ever taxied before, and that was fast enough for me!

[@jackseward7779]

In 1967, while in the USAF, I watched the Thunderbirds fly F-86s at our base near Del Rio. The last maneuver, the Bomb Burst, turned out to be a show-stopper. The center jet blew off its wings and crashed, Fortunately, no one was injured. I saved a subsequent newspaper article about the cause - metal fatigue.

[@stevevernon1978]

I don't recall ever hearing that the Thunderbirds ever flew F-86s. You may be misremembering the aircraft type. Or you may be misremembering the flight team name. It happens to all of us at one time or another.

[@jackseward7779]

You were correct to doubt mymemory. I found the news article online, and it was an F-100 Supersabre that lost its wings during our air show. Oh, well.@@stevevernon1978

[@curtisramsey2023]

That’s a great story! I grew up a few miles from Williams AFB and never heard this before! Thx history guy!

[@Texas_Man_in_Black]

I guess we have all made a bad decision of two in our lives, I know I have but mine involved a few minor speeding tickets. I am glad he got home safe, the punishment was quite fair. the Aircraft was really not seriously damaged. His comanding officers were really good about this and showed great leadership. Thanks for the wonderful story, you do great work !😃

[@waitaminute-vw9hf]

I envy that guy. I would have done the same thing. When you work on jet planes every day, it's hard not to think what it is like to fly one.

[@boydlewis8747]

my dad was in the AF during this time as a jet mechanic, I wonder if he had the same thoughts about flying too, LOL

[@HM2SGT]

Hard to imagine he didn't. Who wouldn't? 😁

[@jimsvideos7201]

There may be more elegant shapes than that of the F-86, but I’m not sure I’ve seen any.

[@KokkiePiet]

I once read that when it was introduced to the Korean War it was to heavy because all the electronics. When this was mostly removed it was so much lighter it could take on the migs. It’s all plexiglass canopy was also a huge advantage because it gave the pilots a much better view than from the migs

[@philwhite3760]

I had heard about this when I served at Willie... I thought it was just one of those wild crew chief legends. Thank you for telling us this story.

[@gyrene_asea4133]

We moved a few years ago to a very nice home w/ view fence of the approach to Williams/Gateway Airport 120/30. Very fun for me to watch old wwII and even F-20s work the patterns. Wife says the jets upset her cats. I don't answer that.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally

[@rconger24]

Everyone should have their very own F86 in their garage!

[@SamhainBe]

Gotta' say, sounds like fun!

[@theirthereandtheyre2947]

My father told me about this many years ago. It happened while my dad was in the Air Force.

[@Pazaroni436]

Every time I pass by the EAA museum in Oshkosh WI I enjoy the view of real Sabre on pedestal right by I-41 . It's a real beauty

[@MikeHarris1984]

Williams Field, that is now Mesa gateway airport. That airport still stands today in about 10 years ago or so if underwent a massive overhaul and rebuilding. It is a tiny airport but a beautiful one

[@Gen-XTex]

Wish things were like they were back then with this kind of stuff.

[@GeorgeSemel]

With youthful exuberance, he is the kind of guy the service needs. Cool and steady with an attention to detail, he would have gone far in the enlisted ranks if he had stayed in. Good Officers in command at the time didn't think ruining his life would be good. We as a nation and people need to return to that notioin. Yeah, he never got to fly an F-86 on Uncle Sugar Dime, and here I am, a retired pilot who has never flown a jet. Lots of turboprops and turbine helicopters, but no jet for me. Oh I was born in 1955, it was a different time.

[@jamesengland7461]

A great story, artfully conveyed as always, Lance.

[@6000Chipmunks]

This story brings back some great memories.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

I think everyone who has done any kind of military service has had those intrusive thoughts to see (or prove) if they could do something similar. For me, it was the Olifant tank and the Rooikat AFV... I went so far as sneaking in to the lecture rooms where the brand-new, one of a kind, Rooikat simulator was kept, and had hours of illegal fun in the thing. To this day, 34 years later, I swear I could have driven one off the base with no-one realizing I was unauthorized to do so. That is as far as my little act of rebellion went however. My bungalow was right next to the Detention Barracks, so I knew better than most the punishment I'd face if I gave in to my school-boy desire. Driving a landrover at night in the Light Vehicle Yard during guard-duty was another story though. When the Guard Room NCO called us up over the radio to find out what was going on, we'd stop the vehicle and reply that we'd investigate the issue. Eventually, after we'd all had a turn racing the vehicle around, we'd tell the Duty NCO that some civilians were holding drag races outside the base. We could only do this over the Christmas period when the base was mostly empty. We never got bust.

[@TrickiVicBB71]

Great story

[@RalphTempleton-vr6xs]

Wow. That's the experience of a lifetime right there, he probably considered that one of the high points of his life. And what a story to tell!

[@gerardjohnson2106]

"The runway looked so good, I just let her go." Why, wouldn't you?🙂

[@danam0228]

3:08 Hey, my son is there right now for basic training! 😊

[@HM2SGT]

Congratulations. I wish him the best of luck, I hope his enlistment is as fun and rewarding as mine, if a little less eventful. 👍🫡

[@danam0228]

@HM2SGT I thank you on his behalf 🫡

[@lancerevell5979]

In my Airforce time I did Basic in Lackland AFB, then Avionics Tech School at Chanute AFB in 1976. Chanute was closed many years ago.

[@danam0228]

@lancerevell5979 👍🫡

[@marknelson5929]

That was one hell of a story, he was clearly cool calm and collected. I guess it helped he was familiar with the aircrafts systems. You mention the F-86 Sabre was made in Australia - indeed it was by C.A.C. (Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation). What many may not know is that around 60% percent of the fuselage was redesigned to house the Rolls-Royce Avon R.A.7., as the Avon was shorter, wider and lighter than the J47 jet engine. It is said the Avon was capable of more than double the maximum thrust and double the thrust-to-weight ratio of the US engine. The Avon Sabre as it was sometimes known had a higher top speed and higher service ceiling than the F-86.

[@edwinwhitaker5679]

Your video reminds me of the following. On the 22nd July, 1966, at R.A.F. Lyneham, Walter "Taffy" Holden, a 39-year-old engineer in command of No 33 Maintainence Unit R.A.F. with limited experience flying small single-engine aircraft inadvertently engaged the afterburner of a Mach 2.0 capable English Electric Lightning during ground testing. Unable to disengage the afterburner, Holden ran down the runway, narrowly missing a crossing fuel bowser and a de Havilland Comet taking off, before taking off himself. Flying without a helmet or canopy, the ejection seat disabled and the landing gear locked down, Holden aborted his first two landing attempts. He landed on his third approach, striking the runway with the aircraft's tail as he adopted the landing technique of a taildragger aircraft. The aircraft returned to service and was subsequently acquired by the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWXHaImBq6xksJIsi=DZZ06mf7gVQrGMww

[@cgrscott]

This was a great story and very well told. Thanks, Lance.

[@georgew.5639]

I know about this story. Except I thought he’s was flying in the T-33. Or an F-80. No matter, jet aircraft require a bit more skill to fly. It’s quite amazing that it turned out as well as it did. Great story.

[@genefenton326]

This one was fun. Oh to have that youthful exuberance. Miss that now in my 50’s. It’s good to be reminded of it though. Thanks History Guy.

[@RetiredSailor60]

As the son of a private pilot, runways uses reference to 360° of a compass, minus the (zero)° such as 35L(eft) or 35R(ight). L and R tells the pilots which way they are to turn the plane upon lift off or approach the runway upon landing.

[@darylhoyt5012]

Thank you…great story, well-told.

[@corporalvideo26]

That's the reason they only let me work on trucks and jeeps.

[@jarrodwidiger5472]

Well you can still do a barrel roll in a jeep

[@jaykaramales3087]

Great story. I can easily understand how he let his exuberance get the best of him. I'm glad it was a pretty happy ending.

[@johngregg5735]

This is my idea of a flight of fantasy

[@larryniidji]

You nailed it on this one! Have you looked at the all the stories on the Flight Simulators? The C130 before test flights had been done, the simulator was built. Then the manufacturer approached them and said they had a problem on take-off and landing. The simulator people filled in the rest of the story. They had been trying to get the shake out of the simulator for "old shakey".

[@oreycrounk9503]

Loved the cufflink.

[@kenyarbro5595]

That's an amazing story. Thanks for sharing.

[@Leoviga53]

Great episode and wonderful history. Thank you very much.

[@greenerdays]

I’ve never flown in and F86 but I have sat in the cockpit and played in one. Our school had one parked beside the school. A lot of it was gutted but it was fun to play in and on. I believe it now resides at CFB Trenton.

[@TranscendianIntendor]

I didn't solo till I had 25 hours. This was because I was a lineman and we would draw straws for the traffic watch done in a Cessna 152. The low time instructor was charged with doing this early hours flight and as a lineman we got to go. One take off and landing instead of the regular training of touch and goes dragged out my time. One time ATC asked if I could do a tailwind landing to accommodate traffic. "Sure." I said. The Instructor was asleep. When I hit I hit hard bouncing high in the air above the runway. :My knee hit the throttle. I pushed the nose down. By now the Instructor was awake. I had broken out in a cold sweat. I have never broken out in a cold sweat again. After I got off the runway. I heard Control give Eastern Heavy flight 285 or what all "Cleared for takeoff." Everything had happened right in front of them. "Hold on, I have to catch my breath." The Captain said. What he said meant he had been with me, and felt what I had done. Pilots are closed mouthed about a lot of things, but flying is infectious.

[@Dakktyrel]

1:40 shows a Mig-15 in the foreground ... granted there is an F-86 in the background

[@brucerayson3544]

Same thing

[@HM2SGT]

​​@@brucerayson3544 *Indeed. Just like oranges & tangerines.*

[@167curly]

That illicit Sabre flight was a real blast. Mowing grass was an amusing punishment. As a schoolboy in the 1950s I flew from Bermuda to London in BOAC Stratocruisers several times, and twice had refueling stops in Goose Bay, Labrador. I remember the long lines of neatly parked Canadian Airforce Sabres there. They were very sleek aircraft for that time.

[@williammurray1341]

Nice passage film of an F84 in Thunderbird paint.

[@bobroberts2371]

The F-86 was used as a backdrop for a coupe of print ads for the 1956 Plymouth .

[@wacojones8062]

Thank you for this coverage, I read about it years ago.

[@sweet.dreams]

thank s for the video - my dad was an f-86 mechanic in korean war - then f-100 in vietnem - he did cold weather testing on both in alaska and greenland - but he never talked about it - i am always looking for photos and videos that may have him in it or info about him - been lucky and found a few things but nothing here i think - and yes he taxied them a lot

[@ROACHRAGE2]

Wonderful story! I'm surprised more mechanics haven't "accidentally" taken off!

[@JohnW-gz4db]

It's happened afew times, including a deliberate stealing a C130 out of UK.in early 70s

[@rascosim1]

Joined the Ala Air National Guard in June 1960 and we had RF-84 at the time. We called them Hogs because they were so hard to lift off when loaded. Had to use Jado bottles at times to aid in lift off.

[@shanp8907]

I was an Air Force avionics tech on F16s… loved my time on the flightline

[@chuckz8053]

Thanks, really enjoyed the show.

[@MadMonk67]

Oh what a ride that must have been. The F-86 Sabre is my second-favorite jet aircraft, behind only the mighty F-4 Phantom II

[@kurtvanluven9351]

I've "piloted" an F-85 (Oldsmobile). I'm not qualified for an F-86!