F-86 Sabre - Korean War Fighter

F-86 Sabre - Korean War Fighter Designed by Edgar Schmued at North American Aviation, the F-86 Sabre was an evolution of the companys FJ Fury design. Conceived for the US Navy, the Fury possessed a straight wing and first flew in 1946. Incorporating a swept wing and other changes, Schmueds XP-86 prototype first took to the skies the following year. The F-86 was designed in answer to the US Air Forces need for a high altitude, day fighter/escort/interceptor. While design began during World War II, the aircraft did enter production until after the conflict. Flight Testing During flight testing, it is believed that the F-86 became the first plane to break the sound barrier while in a dive. This occurred two weeks before Chuck Yeagers historic flight in the X-1. As it was in a dive and the speed was not accurately measured, the record was not officially recognized. The aircraft first officially broke the sound barrier on April 26, 1948. On May 18, 1953, Jackie Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier while flying an F-86E. Built in the US by North American, the Sabre was also built under license by Canadair, with a total production run of 5,500. Korean War The F-86 entered service in 1949, with the Strategic Air Commands 22nd Bomb Wing, 1st Fighter Wing, and 1st Fighter Interceptor Wing. In November 1950, the Soviet-built MiG-15 first appeared over the skies of Korea. Vastly superior to every United Nations aircraft then in use in the Korean War, the MiG forced the US Air Force to rush three squadrons of F-86s to Korea. Upon arriving, US pilots achieved a high level of success against the MiG. This was largely due to experience as many of the US pilots were World War II veterans whereas their North Korean and Chinese adversaries were relatively raw. American success was less pronounced when F-86s encountered MiGs flown by Soviet pilots. In comparison, the F-86 could out dive and out turn the MiG, but was inferior in rate of climb, ceiling, and acceleration. Nevertheless, the F-86 soon became the iconic American aircraft of the conflict and all but one US Air Force ace achieved that status flying the Sabre. The most famous engagements involving the F-86 occurred over northwestern North Korea in an area known a MiG Alley. In this area, Sabres and MiGs frequently duelled, making it the birthplace of jet vs. jet aerial combat. After the war, the US Air Force claimed a kill ratio of around 10 to 1 for MiG-Sabre battles. Recent research has challenged this and suggested that the ratio was much lower. In the years after the war, the F-86 was retired from frontline squadrons as the Century Series fighters, such as the F-100, F-102, and F-106, started to arrive. Overseas While the F-86 ceased to be a frontline fighter for the US, it was exported heavily and saw service with over thirty foreign air forces. The first foreign combat use of the aircraft came during the 1958 Taiwan Straight Crisis. Flying combat air patrol over the disputed islands of Quemoy and Matsu, Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan) pilots compiled an impressive record against their MiG-equipped Communist Chinese foes. The F-86 also saw service with the Pakistani Air Force during both the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani Wars. After thirty-one years of service, the final F-86s were retired by Portugal in 1980. Selected Sources US Air Force: F-86 SabreGlobal Security: F-86 SabreBoeing: F-86 Sabre

Key Facts About Edmonton, the Capital of Alberta

Key Facts About Edmonton, the Capital of Alberta Edmonton is the capital city of the province of Alberta, Canada. Sometimes called Canadas Gateway to the North, Edmonton is the farthest north of Canadas large cities and has important road, rail and air transportation links. About Edmonton, Alberta From its beginnings as a Hudsons Bay Company fur trading fort, Edmonton has evolved into a city with a wide range of cultural, sporting and tourist attractions, and is the host of more than two dozen festivals each year. Most of Edmontons population works in the service and trade industries, as well as in the municipal, provincial and federal governments. Location of Edmonton Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River, near the center of the province of Alberta. You can see  more about the city in these maps of  Edmonton. It is the northernmost large city in Canada and, therefore, the northernmost city in North America. Area Edmonton is 685.25 sq. km (264.58 sq. miles), according to Statistics Canada. Population As of the 2016 Census, Edmontons population was 932,546 people, making it the second-largest city in Alberta, after Calgary. It is the fifth-largest city in Canada. More Edmonton City Facts Edmonton was incorporated as a town in 1892 and as a city in 1904. Edmonton became the capital city of Alberta in 1905. Government of City of Edmonton Edmonton municipal elections are held every three years on the third Monday in October. The last Edmonton municipal election was held on Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, when Don Iveson was re-elected as mayor. The city council of Edmonton, Alberta is made up of 13 elected representatives: one mayor and 12 city councilors. Edmonton Economy Edmonton is a hub for the oil and gas industry (hence the name of its National Hockey League team, the Oilers). It is also well-regarded for its research and technology industries. Edmonton Attractions Major attractions in Edmonton include West Edmonton Mall (the largest mall in North America), Fort Edmonton Park, the Alberta Legislature, the Royal Alberta Museum, Devonian Botanic Garden and the Trans Canada Trail. There are also several sports arenas, including Commonwealth Stadium, Clarke Stadium and Rogers Place. Edmonton Weather Edmonton has a fairly dry climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Summers in Edmonton are hot and sunny. Although July is the month with the most rain, showers and thunderstorms are usually short. July and August have the warmest temperatures, with highs around 75 F (24 C). Summer days in June and July in Edmonton bring 17 hours of daylight. Winters in Edmonton are less severe than in many other Canadian cities, with low humidity and less snow. Although the winter temperature can dip to -40 C/F, the cold spells last only a few days and usually come with sunshine. January is the coldest month in Edmonton, and the wind chill can make it feel much colder.