North American Sabreliner
North American Aviation / Rockwell International · United States · first flew 1958 · transport aircraft
The North American Sabreliner was an American twin-engine business jet developed simultaneously as a military utility trainer and a corporate aircraft, entering service in 1963. It was one of the earliest purpose-built business jets to achieve commercial success.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, tail-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Sharp narrow nose and small oval fuselage cross-section |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early business jet with aft-mounted paired turbojet engines
- Swept mid-wing with slight anhedral on outer panels
- Sharp narrow nose and small oval fuselage cross-section
A compact business jet with twin aft-mounted engines, a conventional (not T-tail) horizontal stabiliser, and swept mid-mounted wings; the conventional rather than T-tail arrangement distinguishes it from the roughly contemporary Learjet and JetStar.
Specifications
- The North American Sabreliner has a length of 13.23 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.53 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 925 km/h (575 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to a 1956 US Air Force requirement for a utility trainer, the Sabreliner first flew in 1958 and was adopted as the T-39 Sabreliner for the USAF and Navy. North American simultaneously developed the civilian Model 40 and subsequent commercial variants that proved popular with corporate operators through the 1960s and 1970s.
Variants
Military variants included the T-39A (USAF trainer), T-39B (Navy radar trainer), and CT-39E/G (transport); commercial variants included the Model 40, 60, 65, 75, and 80 with progressively improved engines and avionics.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the USAF, US Navy, and Marine Corps; popular with US corporate flight departments; exported in small numbers to several foreign military forces.
Related aircraft
- Antonov An-14 Pchelka
- Boeing VC-137 Stratoliner
- Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
- De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
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