Truro Model Builder Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 Just read this on the Key Publishing forum: Duxford based Golden Apple Operations Ltd has today suspended flying of their North American F-86A Sabre (48-178). Subject to completion of contract the aircraft will be returning to the United States in the very near future. We are extremely grateful to all who have supported us and for the enthusiastic following by many over the last 22 years. It has been an enormous challenge yet an immense privilege to operate the world’s oldest jet powered aircraft, the only airworthy F-86A and the only Sabre flying in Europe. We have been fortunate to have had the backing of many committed individuals over the years and we are all saddened that our involvement in this particular chapter of 48-178’s history is now drawing to an end.We will be fully supporting the transition to operations in the USA and we wish the new owner the very best of luck. What a bummer. One of my favourite jet displays . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted June 12, 2014 Share Posted June 12, 2014 It is a shame but I seem to remember this has been on the cards for a few years anyway. Glad I got to see it a few years ago at Woodford, it displayed with a MiG 15 UTI Happy days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Very Sad! Last time I saw it display was at Shoreham last year, Always loved seeing it fly and my most favourite cold war jet of the 50s era. Missng it already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 damm never saw it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Saw it last year doing a low level beat up of Baldonnel Aerodrome the day before the Dublin Flightfest very very impressive Sad to see the old bird departing Duxford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Saw it last year doing a low level beat up of Baldonnel Aerodrome the day before the Dublin Flightfest very very impressive Sad to see the old bird departing Duxford did you get any photos.... ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowler0000 Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Saw it at Biggen Hill many years ago. Sometimes, You just have to go home....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) did you get any photos.... ? No Zoom but this gives you an idea just how low she was Fantastic seven minute display on arrival at Baldonnel for flighfest September last year sorry for delay just found out how to upload pics Edited September 8, 2014 by Team Aer Lingus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Saw her a Duxford doing a practise display, fantastic . Nice Smokey engine spewing out black trails. Shame she's going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 It's a crying shame Beautiful plane well flown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 No Zoom but this gives you an idea just how low she was Fantastic seven minute display on arrival at Baldonnel for flighfest September last year sorry for delay just found out how to upload pics Eamonn...... those are BRILLIANT.....Thank you. Oh SHE LOOKS AWESOME in the last shot. . AMAZING .....THANK YOU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Houston Many thanks for your kind words have to admit we nearly missed her just about to leave Baldonnel when we heard her call sign on the radio approaching runway 23 reckon she went between tower & hangars wonder if any Air Corps personnel captured her from the other side of the fence lol It was a joy watching her go through her paces that Saturday a lot tamer during Flighfest sadly (High winds didn't help any of the Aircraft performing to be fair). Eamonn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Having seen her a number of times over the years, I'm sad to hear she's going, but these things happen. I can remember being sad when the Tigercat went too, and that we weren't being treated to a season of the new Mossie over here, but what can ya do? Make an effort to see them before they go, and that's about it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggy4624 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 (edited) Didn't see it enough. I would love to have seen it in a trio with a meatbox and vampire! It would be nice to see one in RAF colours. Edited September 15, 2014 by oggy4624 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) Caught her at Duxford last weekend anyone any idea when she leaves for US? Edited September 21, 2014 by Team Aer Lingus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Another picture of her at rest @ Duxford Airshow couple of weeks ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 In addition to the Sabre leaving, I read in Aeroplane Monthly that the Hellcat of TFC is heading back to the US after 25 years!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyK Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 I had a closer look at the Sabre in Duxford and there's one detail about the wings I never noticed before: because of the presence of the wing fence I always assumed it had been retrofitted with the 6-3 hard wing. But actually, that doesn't seem to be the case. It has the original short-chord, slatted wing, but the slats are fixed in the closed position and the wing fence is added on top of them... I wonder when this mod had been done and if this was done on other slatted wing Sabres as well. Really gutted to see her go, and all the other US type planes as well (F7F, P-47, P-40B, F6F...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 she's still at Duxford - i was there today. in the same place as team air lingus' photo, but with a cover over the cockpit. airbrakes open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Edmundson Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 I had a closer look at the Sabre in Duxford and there's one detail about the wings I never noticed before: because of the presence of the wing fence I always assumed it had been retrofitted with the 6-3 hard wing. But actually, that doesn't seem to be the case. It has the original short-chord, slatted wing, but the slats are fixed in the closed position and the wing fence is added on top of them... I wonder when this mod had been done and if this was done on other slatted wing Sabres as well. Really gutted to see her go, and all the other US type planes as well (F7F, P-47, P-40B, F6F...). It was done by the original restorer Ben Hall in the 70s. There was problems in the slat mechanism during the restoration and to eliminate a bunch of headaches, he decided to lock them closed and add the fence of the 6-3 wing. It is one-of-a-kind. Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyK Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 It was done by the original restorer Ben Hall in the 70s. There was problems in the slat mechanism during the restoration and to eliminate a bunch of headaches, he decided to lock them closed and add the fence of the 6-3 wing. It is one-of-a-kind. Tony Thanks very much for the info! Best regards Jeffrey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now