YF-93A; The Forgotten Sabre 

You have refined the forgotten aircraft space into a formidable niche for which you excel. Well done as always.

I would say the F86 , and MiG 15, were second generation of jet aircraft, while the F80, Meter, and ME262 were the first jet generation.

Interesting. For a brief time in the early 50s it looks like the USAF actually more usable jet designs than they knew what to do with. But what was also happening was engine development and research into supersonic flight meant designs like YF-93 became quickly obsolete.

I had a book on the Sabre as a kid and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. They showed this in the book but didn’t really cover it, it’s super cool to finally learn about it

It always blows my mind how people have no concept of keeping items like these for people to see in museums. Especially one of a kind airplanes!

My favourite fighter ever, a perfect looking aircraft for its time.

At the end of most of these stories, my heart sinks when I hear "and they were finally, scrapped" :(

"The bombers will fly too high and too fast for interception". Where have we heard that before....1930s Europe perhaps?

3:03 Eddie Rickenbacker's old squadron, the 94th Aero Squadron "Hat In The Ring"!

Fun fact, the Lockheed jet was used as the basis for wonder woman's "inviso jet".

Hi Ed, you never fail to surprise and delight me. The F-86 remains in my heart as the most beautiful fighter I have ever seen. I think of it as the prototypic fighter, much as I consider the Centurion tank to be the prototypic tank. I had assumed that I knew about as much about this model as anyone. Apparently not. So thanks very much for getting my head out of my %%%%. Fair shakes to the venerable F-101 Voodoo, an aircraft with a long service life, with the RCAF in particular. Your comment on the NACA inlets makes great sense, inasmuch as high AOA was not the consideration that it should have been. The B-47 and B-52 certainly carried the weight of future conflicts, and as we know, the B-52 is likely to outlive multiple generations of its pilots. Thanks again, mate, for setting me straight. Cheers.

Hadn't heard of this particular aircraft. Based on what we know now, it probably would've been phased out fairly quickly if it had gone into production so it doesn't hurt as much as some of the other good designs that didn't make it for one reason or another. It's kind of poetically appropriate that the only examples built were actually used to chase after newer designs... Also, I was thinking that photo of the XF-88 looked *really* familiar just as you switched to the F-101, thanks. :-)

Ed Nash is a legend.

I'm so glad to see a video on this plane, finally! I'm hoping a vid on the XF-90 is next

You always throw out these odd planes, and commentors always say "wow, I never heard of that". But I always have. From WWI to the 60s, you have never caught me yet; I'm pretty well versed in aviation history and know the off-the-wall planes. Well, you finally did it. Never heard of this one. I owe you your choice of a beer or a cigar, payable upon demand.

Always interesting content

Thanks for a truly amazing video, and the research behind it, of an aicraft even a navgeek like me hasn't heard of, but should have done. Now, thanks to you, I do! Brilliant stuff.

Another very nice documentary. Thank you!

The YF-93 is a rare bird in any inventory. The portly fuselage is housing a centrifugal-flow turbojet and, I think, is the only centrifugal-flow jet to receive an afterburner.

Great vid, as usual.

Technology was changing so fast at the time. Plus airframes, especially military ones only have so much development potential before you are better off with a new design.

That XF-** looks a lot like the VS. Swift !!. Until you look at the back end that is. But then the YF-93A has the back end of the Swift. Just thought I'd point that out.

Looks remarkably like the British P.1081 that was offerred to the Australian Air Force ( we went with our own variant of the Sabre, the CAC CA-27 ).

Beautiful, clean lines!

Great video!

XF90 Most gorgeous fighter/hood ornament ever. Really I had an auntie who had a '66 Bonneville and that was her hood ornament.

The one photo showing the speed brake(s) extended from the belly is interestingly very similar in location and shape to that used on the F-100.

Every time I hear that _"...was eventually_ (for whatever reason) _scrapped",_ it's like a punch in the guts. So much aviation history gone, all but forgotten (save for such places as here). Imagine how much worse it was for the poor sod with hands actually upon it, trying to preserve that history, back then, and being powerless to do so. That _really_ had to hurt.

The other problem was the landing gear. The Japanese Defense force built a workshop that repaired damaged F-86's; Japan received 1 of every 2 fighters repaired. It was the beginnings of the Japanese Air Defense Force. Most of the work was at Tachikawa Air base

An interesting video. North America went on to produce the F-100 Super Sabre. And we cannot complain about the wonderful F-101 Voodoo.

Thanks Awesome Ed Nash... Shoe🇺🇸

It is reminiscent of the Vought Crusader III proposed high speed high altitude interceptor based off of the YF-8 Concept, which obviously came after this YF-93a

This is so fascinating that it tickles me.

The true forgotten Sabre is the CAC CA-27 Sabre also the best Sabre

Another fantastic "What If?"

It's a pity they didn't keep one for the USAF Museum in Dayton.

Happy to say I know about this one

Another reason for the abandonment for the so-called "penetration fighter" (long range escort fighter) requirement was that all of the resulting aircraft were regarded as being too large and unwieldy to be competitive against enemy interceptor fighters. In addition, air-to-air refueling had been developed to the point where fighters able to carry sufficient fuel to fly long-range escort missions were no longer viewed as being required.

Mr. Ed Nash, can you also do a video on the Lockheed F-90 ? Thank you.

Seeing the Voodoo does rankel a bit as a Canadian as that was the poor replacement of the Avro Arrow that was canceled after four where built and then all where scrapped and hushed up as if the plane never existed.

Such a cool, albeit chunky, fighter. It truly is a shame that so many concepts and prototypes like these end up being scrapped. I hope that whatever designs that either recently have been built, or will be built, will be saved somehow, for posterities' sake.

That xp81 is a pretty plane!

The Ryan aircraft was the Fireball of the mid 1940s. It had piston and jet power. The Dark Shark was made by Douglas in the early 1950s and used a counter rotating turboprop power. The video confused these two aircraft.

Amazing video has always. Ed could you talk about the navalized sabre.You can barely find videos on them

The reason the fuselage was so wide had to do with the "Tay" being a centrifugal type engine much wider than the typical J-47, Orenda, or J-73 that powered the production versions of the Sabre.

Yeah, I think we are mostly familiar with the problems around the exercises with the Canberra. ie Simply flew too high and fast for fighters to catch it.

That thumbnail GIMPjob is killing me.

I hope you do the XF-84H Thunderscreech. Though, maybe it is too well-known. Cheers. ☮

Reminds me of the Supermarine Swift.

Another obscure aircraft.....but you can see a little of the future F-100 in the YF-93A. Thanks for the post. May I suggest the Northrup C-125 Raider?

I love the F86 but this my first time seeing this version

"...and subsequently be scrapped." Always sad to hear when every aircraft of its type is destroyed.

2:27: The "aiming stripes" on the wing of the Mustang are interesting, have never seen that. Probably meant for holding position in a formation. Does anyone know what they were meant for?

How about a video about the 75mm cannon armed B25?

not sure if anyone mentioned this before but another factor that contributed to "killing" the specialized long range penetration fighter concept was the successful development by Boeing of it,s high flight speed and high pumping capacity "Flying Boom" method of inflight refueling for the USAF which showed greater promise. with relays of tanker planes based at strategic spots,the USAF could now do nonstop "fighter drags" from Point A to Point B pretty much anywhere in the world at will as well as strategic bomber support and later with jet heavy transports.

How have I never heard of the B-45? literally looks like the F-86 to the MiG-15 but with the IL-28 being its counterpart.

only heard of this playin IL-2 1946

Did they empty and then drop the wingtip tanks first while on the way in?

So, lf the F-86 Sabre is a First Generation Jet Fighter, are the Me-262A Schwalbe, Gloster Meteor, DH Vampire, Dassault Mystere, Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star Zeroth Generation Jet Fighters? Now, I am pretty confused generationally on Jet Fighters ...

Imagine towing a Bowser glider on the way in. Probably wouldn't work but just imagine it.

Ed, a quick FYI in case no one brought it up before: NACA is pronounced 'Nacka,' much like NASA! (Thanks for making my favorite aviation videos on RU-vid)

Wonder if any of the research into YF-93A went into the Fiat G.91 design ?

The C (YF-93) version puts me in mind of the never to leave the drawing board Messerschmitt Me P.1110. The Sabre already owed it's wing form to Messerschmitt and a lot of German tech made it's way into many post WWII types. The Bell X-5 being an almost rivet for rivet 'upgraded' copy of the Me P.1101, except for it having mechanical in-flight variable geometry wings as opposed to the manually changed wings (on the ground) on the German bird being a classic example of this acquired technology that was years ahead of what the allies had.

More aviation excellence, channels like this is why tv just isnt interesting anymore.

Do we know what pilots thought about the YF93A?

Scrapped! How sad they were not given to museums!

The AJ-1 Savage also had jets and piston engines, but wasn't a fighter I don't think

Looking at the XF-90 "Penetration Fighter" gives me a 'special feeling'... Is that normal? (Asking for a friend.)

I will say one thing back when they were trying different designs, they tried every thing.

Looks like the forerunner to the F-4.

At a superficial glance it could be mistaken for a Swift!

But they did make a follow up, the Super Saber! It had a unique feature that distinguished it from the regular Saber…. A cape Why do ya think it was called the “Super” saber?

looks like the swift and its prototype 698.

Average service lifes of 1940’s and 50’s American fighters was short. Normally under a decade or shorter. This didn’t change until the century series jets were adopted.

2000 miles range ? That's impressive but note it was WITH Tanks which means thats not nearly good enough to escort big bombers on deep penetration missions

The Brits looked very close to this one for the Swift.

👍👍

Such a shame, and a nice looking plane. With a little more development, this design probably could have gone on and done a better job in Vietnam than the latter F-100 did. As a true fighter and not a ground attack plane, anyway, which is about all the F-100 was really used for. I bet its performance against Migs would have been much better and would have been a more formidable escort fighter than the F-4, which didn't really deliver well on promises of beyond visual range missile engagements or missile engagements in general against Migs either. Unfortunately, the defense complex has developed a lot of superior aircraft designs, that were scrapped for less capable designs.

"FU-262" lool :D

2nd gen... btw B36 was in service before the B50

I would not call the Sabre or the Mig 15 first generation. First generation were the straight wing jets such as the P-80 or the Vampire, or the Meteor. The ME 262 has a claim for being a second generation with its swept wings.

t.y 🙏🙏

A lot of people don't realize that Oprah's first giveaway was actually NACA ducts.

Seems like it would have been better than the f-89, etc. that were slow radar patrol planes.

Something of a question I've had in my head. Is there any use of something like a shotgun on aircraft,and if so how effective were they and how were they used. Was there any purpose built aircraft that had them installed? I figured you be the best place to ask. (sorry if someone has asked before)

"We dont need escort fighters" proved a bit problematic in WWII

Biggest NACA ducts ever

It kinda looks like the Supermarine Scimitar

Limited range was only ONE flaw. Limited/poor turning-radius was a Fatal Flaw of the F86 !! But it was more sexy looking than MIGs. 😂

biggest naca ducts i've ever seen!

-"Joseph, where did you put the drawings for the Swift?" -"Blast, I can't find them anywhere!" Meanwhile at North American Aviation:

Then there was the Sabre that went to sea.

Shoulda built a squadron with 10 backup craft

Budget issues have killed more aircraft than enemy fire... 😛

A PO-2 once shot down a F-94 in korea

It is NOT pounds of force...it is pounds of thrust!

Is it just me, or does YF-317 look an awful lot like an F4 Phantom II??

I wonder why nobody after the WWII put a 57mm gun on a fighter/bomber type of an airplane. The 37mm was the largest except the 105mm of the C130 Gunship.

F-86 was a mid second generation fighter.

Looks very similar to the Chinese Qiang 5 nuclear bomber.