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5050 Santa Fe Drive • Atwater, California • 95301
North American (Rockwell) T-39A-1-NA Sabreliner
MUSEUM HOURS
May 1- October 31
9:00am - 5:00pm
November 1 - April 30
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round,
except for the
following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
The North American Sabreliner (later sold as the Rockwell Sabreliner) is a mid-sized business jet developed by North American Aviation. It was offered to the U.S. Air Force in response to their Utility Trainer Experimental (UTX) program. Due to similarity of the wing and tail to North American's F-86 Sabre, it was dubbed "Sabreliner." Military variants, designated 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. The Sabreliner was also developed into a commercial variant.
Basic configuration of the military versions provided for a crew of two and four passengers. The interior could be modified from a radar or navigational trainer configuration to that of a cargo or passenger carrier in a matter of minutes. As a cargo carrier, the aircraft could transport items weighing up to 2,300 pounds with a length of 16 feet. Seat tie-down fittings were suitable for use as cargo rings in lashing down equipment.
The civilian version of the T-39 Sabreliner, developed in 1962, was North American's only successful commercial aircraft, and the Sabreliner Division was established to build the new jet. The civilian version of the Sabreliner was essentially the same as the military version, but provided for installation of de-icing boots, autopilot and other communications and navigation equipment not required by the armed services. It could accommodate a crew of two and up to seven passengers.
By Dec. 11, 1980, 600 Sabreliners, including 212 military T-39s (USAF & Navy), had been delivered. North American, then renamed Rockwell International, sold the Sabreliner Division to private investors in 1983. The ensuing Sabreliner Corp. is headquartered in St. Louis.
The Sabreliner on display, 0664 (c/n 265-67) was gained by the USAF on August 2, 1962. In May 1963, it went to the 7101st Air Base Wing (US Air Forces) Wiesbaden AB, Germany. In May 1968 it went to 1001st Composite Wing (Headquarters Command), Andrews AFB, MD. August 1969 saw it transferred to 1st Composite Wing (HQC) at Andrews AFB. 1402nd Military Airlift Sqn (Military Airlift Command), Andrews AFB recieved it and it was deployed to Holloman AFB in Nevada. In June of 1977 it was re-designated CT-39A. It went overseas in February 1978 to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing (Pacific Air Forces), Kadena AB, Japan, and then to 475th Air Base Wing (PACAF), Yokota AB, Japan in December 1984, its last deployment before it went to Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (ex: AMARC) as TG0063 on Mar 21, 1985. It was dropped from the AF inventory in January 1990. On June 8, 1990 it went to Dual Vocational Institute in Tracy, Ca. When vocational programs were dropped, it was offered to Castle Air Museum. It was dismantled and trucked to the museum's Restoration Hangar at Castle on Dec 5, 2007.
The photo below is ©David Campbell
Specifications
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: North American Aviation/Rockwell International
Role/Function: Business Jet & Trainer Aircraft
Serial Number: 10664 (c/n 265-67)
Model Number/Mk. #: NA-265
Crew: 4-5
Power Plant: 2× Pratt & Whitney J60-P-3 turbojet, 3,000 lbf (13.3 kN) each.
Maximum Speed: 550 mph.
Cruising Speed: 500 mph.
Service Ceiling: 40,000+ ft.
Range: 1,950 mi. (with reserve)
Weights: Empty: 9,257 lbs.; military: 9,265 lbs. Maximum: 18,340 lbs.; military: 17,760 lbs.
Wing Span: 44.6 ft.
Length: 44 ft.
Height: 16 ft.
Wing Area: 342.1 ft²
Armament: None.
Cost: n/a
# Built: 600 Sabreliners including 143 T-39A military variants.
# in Current Service: None.
