Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


General information
Type	Trainer aircraft Business jet
Manufacturer	North American Aviation Rockwell International
Status	In active service
Primary users	United States Air Force United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Number built	800+
History
Manufactured	1959–1982
Introduction date	1962
First flight	September 16, 1958

The North American Sabreliner, later sold as the Rockwell Sabreliner, is an American mid-sized business jet developed by North American Aviation. It was offered to the United States Air Force (USAF) in response to its Utility Trainer Experimental (UTX) program. It was named "Sabreliner" due to the similarity of the wing and tail to North American's F-86 Sabre jet fighter. Military variants, designated T-39 Sabreliner, were used by the USAF, United States Navy (USN), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) after the USAF placed an initial order in 1959. The Sabreliner was also developed into a commercial variant.

By 1973, North American had merged with Rockwell Standard under the name Rockwell International. In 1976 Rockwell contracted Raisbeck Engineering to redesign the wing of the Sabreliner series. The resulting Raisbeck Mark V wing was the first supercritical wing in service in the United States. The Mark V wing was combined with Garrett TFE731 turbofan engines, to create the Series 65. Sabreliner models 60 and 80 were retrofitted with the Mark V wing as the Series 60A (STC SA687NW) and Series 80A (STC SA847NW)..

Operational history

Over 800 Sabreliners were produced, of which 200 were T-39s. A number of retired military T-39s have also entered the civilian world since the military versions also carry FAA type certification. As of May 2007, 56 examples have been lost in accidents. The Series 65 was the last series run and 76 of them were produced, mostly for the private market. Monsanto has the oldest continuously operating company corporate jet division starting with its purchase of a Sabreliner 40

North American

North American NAA T-39 Sabreliner
Manufactured 1959–1982
First flight September 16, 1958

General characteristics

Crew: four–five
Capacity: five–seven passengers
Length: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
Wingspan: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)

Powerplant

Wing area: 342.1 sq ft (31.79 m²)
Empty weight: 9,257 lb (4,199 kg)
Max takeoff weight: (8,056 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J60-P-3 turbojet, 3,000 lbf (13 kN) thrust each

Specifications

Maximum speed: (550 mph, 885 km/h)
Cruise speed: (500 mph, 800 km/h)
Range: 2,170 nmi (2,500 mi, 4,020 km)
Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,200 m)
Thrust/weight: 0.338

Aircraft of comparable role

Special Links North American T-39 Sabreliner

Links to Youtube & Others

North American Aviation began development of the Sabreliner as an in-house project, and in response to the UTX request for proposals, offered a military version to the USAF. UTX combined two different roles, personnel transport and combat readiness training, into the same aircraft.

NAA T-39 Sabreliner

The Sabreliner requires a minimum crew of two and, depending on cabin configuration, can carry up to seven passengers (NA-265 through NA-265-40) or ten passengers.

Youtube Link

Between 1993 and 1994, Osama bin Laden reportedly owned and used a former USAF T-39A,

North American Aviation
NAA T-39/CT-39E Sabreliner
First flight September 16, 1958 Produced 1959–1982