F-86 Sabre - Gear down // Clear canopyF 86 Sabre airplane model. The USAF's first swept wing jet fighter made its initial flight on October 1, 1947. The first production model flew on May 20, 1948, and on September 15, 1948, an F 86A set a new world speed record of 670. 9 mph. Originally designed as a high altitude day fighter, it was subsequently redesigned into an all weather interceptor (F 86D) and a fighter bomber (F 86H). As a day fighter, the airplane saw service in Korea in three