North American Sabreliner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sabreliner | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Trainer aircraft Business jet |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation Rockwell |
| Maiden flight | September 16, 1958[1] |
| Status | In active service |
| Primary users | United States Air Force United States Navy |
| Produced | 1959-1982 |
| Number built | 800+[2] |
The North American Sabreliner (later sold as the Rockwell Sabreliner) was developed by North American Aviation in response to the U.S. Air Force's Utility Trainer Experimental (UTX) program. Due to similarity of the wing and tail to North American's F-100 Super Sabre, it was dubbed "Sabreliner."[1] Military variants, dubbed T-39 Sabreliner, were used by both the U.S Air Force and U.S. Navy after the Air Force placed an initial order in 1959. [3]
The Sabreliner was later developed into a commercial variant. After North American was acquired by Rockwell, production continued until termination in 1982. The next year, Rockwell International, sold the Sabreliner division to a private equity firm which formed Sabreliner Corporation, the support organization for continuing operators.[1]
The Sabreliner was powered by two Pratt and Whitney J60 turbojet engines mounted on the aft fuselage. The most prevalent Air Force version was designated T-39B. The Navy version, the T3J-1 (T-39D after the 1962 re-designation), was fitted with the radar system from the F3H-1 Demon all-weather fighter and used as a radar trainer for pilots of that aircraft. The military transport version of Saberliner is CT-39. The T-39N and T-39G are currently used in the Advanced Jet syllabus in training Naval Flight Officers and USAF and foreign navigators. Foreign students also train in the T-39 in place of the T-1 during the Intermediate Jet syllabus.
Over 800 Sabreliners were produced, of which 200 were T-39s.[2] As of 2007, fifty-one examples have been lost in accidents.[4]
[edit] Specifications (T3J-1/T-39D)
Data from Boeing (successor to North American) [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4-5
- Capacity: 5-7 passengers
- Length: 44 ft (13.41 m)
- Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)
- Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
- Wing area: 342.1 ft² (31.79 m²)
- Empty weight: 9,257 lb (4,199 kg)
- Loaded weight: 16,340 lb (7,412 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 17,760 lb (8,056 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney J60-P-3 turbojet, 3,000 lbf (13.3 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 478 knots (550 mph, 885 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 435 knots (500 mph, 800 km/h)
- Range: 2,170 nm (2,500 mi, 4,020 km)
- Service ceiling: 40,000+ ft (12,200+ m)
- Thrust/weight: 0.338
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "T-39 Sabreliner." Boeing (successor to North American Aviation)
- ^ a b "The Rockwell Sabreliner." Airliners.net.
- ^ "Fact Sheets: North American T-39A Sabre Liner." National Museum of the United States Air Force.
- ^ "Rockwell Sabreliner." Aviation Safety Network.
[edit] Related content
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
Related lists
- List of active United States military aircraft
See also
- Civil support site, Sabreliner Corporation
- Government support site, Sabreliner Corporation
- T-39 / CT-39 Sabreliner. GlobalSecurity.org.
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