The Florida-based Valiant Air Command has received an F-86 Sabre on a long-term loan from its owner. The famous fighter now is based at the organization’s Titusville warbird museum.
This particular F-86 was built in 1953 and served in the United States Air Force before being transferred to Argentina, where it served from 1960 until 1988. It was bought in 1988 by Tom Righetti, who restored it. He has since passed away. The aircraft now is owned by his widow and is flown to many airshows around the country by Dale Snodgrass. “The Valiant Air Command is honored to have this F-86 loaned to us for public display,” said Colonel Terry Yon, the organization’s public relations officer.
The North American F-86 Sabre was arguably the most successful American fighter of the 1950s. F-86 pilots established a kill ratio of nearly 10:1 over the MiG-15 in Korea, where it became known as the MiG killer. Of the 40 American pilots who earned the designation of ace during the Korean war, all but one flew F-86 Sabres.
For information: www.vacwarbirds.org or 321-268-1941.
