Fighter Jets | F-86 Sabre What a beautiful airplane; both in flight and on the ground. A few years ago, I briefly shared the pattern with a North American F-86 Sabre. Of course, it was moving much faster than I was. It was an honor to share a piece of sky with such an iconic airplane. The F-86 was the first swept-wing U.S. fighter. North American manufactured more than 6,000 F-86s. For the whole story with all images, see Fighter Jets | a 7 Image Story.
TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | North American F-86 Sabre Three F-68 Sabres attended the 3rd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering held this year at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL. A few years ago, I briefly shared the pattern with an F-86. I felt honored to share a piece of sky with such an iconic airplane. What a beautiful airplane; looks fast even while taxiing! See TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | a 7 Image Story A cloudy IFR morning gave way to a nice, hazy VFR afternoon for the 3rd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering held this weekend at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL. Eleven Grumman TBM Avengers beat the weather to attend this year’s event, a Salute to Veterans. Also, a Douglas A-26 Invader and a couple of T-6 Texans as well as three North American F-86 Sabres and a MiG-17 Fresco also made it to the gathering this year.
The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber. Those designated TBM were actually manufactured by General Motors. It has a crew of three; pilot, gunner, and radio operator/bombardier. Avengers are powered by a 1,900 hp Wright R-200-20 radial engine. Its armament includes two .50-in. forward-firing machine guns; one .50-in. dorsal gun; one .30-in. ventral gun.; 2,000 lb. bomb/torpedo load. Also it’s capable of carrying the Norden bombsight. Developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, it entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Although five Avengers were lost at Midway, it became one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of the war and remained in service until the 1960s after several modifications.
This Grumman TBM Avenger has been restored as a replica of LT. (J.G.) George Bush’s plane; who would later become the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush. President Bush was a high school senior on Dec. 7, 1941, at Phillips Academy Andover. On June 12, 1942, he turned 18, graduated from Andover, and shortly thereafter was sworn into the US Navy. A year later, Bush became an officer of the United States Naval Reserve, earned his wings as a naval aviator, and was assigned to fly TBM Avengers off the aircraft carrier San Jacinto in the Pacific. He was likely the Navy’s youngest flying officer; just days before his 19th birthday. As a member of the San Jacinto’s torpedo squadron VT-51, Bush flew an Avenger with the name “Barbara” inscribed. During the war, he flew 58 combat missions for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism under fire, three Air Medals, and the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to his ship, the San Jacinto.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Gathering 2018.
Click any image below for a slide show!
TBF/TBM Avenger Specifications
| Length: 40 ft., 11 in. Height: 16 ft., 5 in. Wingspan: 54 ft., 2 in. Wing area: 490 sq. ft. | Empty: 10,545 lb. Maximum: 17,895 lb. | Max Speed: 276 mph at 16,500 ft. Cruise Speed: 147 mph Climb Rate: 2,060 ft./min. Ceiling: 30,100 ft. Range: 1,010 miles |
Reflections on 2017 | F-86 Sabre Taxiing After the weather improved at the 2nd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering held at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL, the F-86 Sabre got a chance to fly. A few years ago, I briefly shared the pattern with an F-86. Of course, it was moving much faster than I was. Still, I felt honored to share a piece of sky with such an iconic airplane. This annual TBM gathering has quickly become a poplar event. To see the entire story with all seven images, go to Reflections on 2017 | a 7 Image Story.
F-86 Sabre Taxiing After the weather improved at the 2nd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering held last Saturday at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL, the F-86 Sabre got a chance to fly. What a beautiful airplane; both in flight and on the ground. A few years ago, I briefly shared the pattern with an F-86. Of course, it was moving much faster than I was. Still, I felt honored to share a piece of sky with such an iconic airplane. Hope it comes back next year!
F-86 Sabre The North American F-86 Sabre will be featured at several air shows this year, but it will be very lonely with no current military aircraft to compliment it. The dysfunction in our government (the sequester) has resulted in military spending cuts including all the military aircraft appearances at air shows this year.
