Flight Systems Inc. Sabre N86FS

6/8/85, Mojave, CA.  "Flight Systems Sabre"

Flight Systems Inc.'s (FSI) Canadair Sabre Mk. 5 N86FS (c/n 1157, ex-RCAF 23367 is seen at rest in the bright desert sun.  This airplane was not part of the full-scale target (i.e., "drone") program.  She was effectively a brand new Sabre Mk. 5 built up from the aircraft purchased from Mr. Dave McEwen with the use of numerous spare parts.  Flight Systems also installed an Orenda engine as used in the Sabre 6 and she was used as a chase airplane for numerous flight test programs.  N86FS was reportedly a favorite of Flight Systems' president, W. R. "Bob" Laidlaw, and his name can be seen painted on her canopy in this picture.

After later use by FSI as a target tug, N86FS was eventually sold to Flying Fossils, Inc. of Hickory, NC and operated by them during the 2003-2006 time frame in a colorful USAF paint scheme. 

Unfortunately, on 7/24/06 (9 years ago today) she was destroyed during an attempted takeoff from Hickory on the way to the Oshkosh fly-in.  Sadly, her pilot, Mr. Wyatt Fuller, lost his life in the crash.  The NTSB probable cause can be found at http://tinyurl.com/NTSB-N86FS.

Despite her sad end, in June 1985 she was, perhaps, "the most beautiful Sabre 5 imaginable" as her owner, Mr. Laidlaw, often referred to her.

An excellent reference for those interested in the history of the F-86 Sabre is Duncan Curtis's "North American QF-86E/F/H/Sabre Full Scale Aerial Targets, Ginter Naval Fighters Number Fifty-Eight", published in 2001.