Which fighter was the starting point for the XP-86's design?

Short answer

The FJ-1: the USAF's XP-86 ground-test prototype, origin of the F-86 Sabre, emerged as an evolution of that North American fighter. The USAAF chose one of the submitted designs and contracted three XP-86 examples, which early studies showed would match the performance of the XP-80 and XP-84.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Which fighter was the starting point for the XP-86's design?

Bottisham Four" - Four P-51 Mustangs fighters in flight

A previous fighter as starting point

The XP-86 ground-test prototype, which would lead to the US Air Force's highly influential F-86 Sabre, was born as an evolution of the FJ-1. When the latter's design was finalized, German research into swept-wing aerodynamics was not yet available. North American Aviation reached that point after having built, during World War II, the propeller-driven P-51 Mustang, which fought against some of the first operational jet fighters.

From study to contract

The USAAF selected one of the submitted designs and awarded North American a contract to build three examples of the XP-86, standing for "experimental pursuit." Early studies revealed that the XP-86 would have the same performance as its rivals, the XP-80 and the XP-84.

The Sabre's later branches

In 1947 North American Aviation began the NA-157 design study to create a true "penetration fighter" meeting the requirements for a long-range version of its F-86A Sabre. The resulting fighter was originally designated F-86C. In December 1947 the Air Force ordered two NA-157 prototypes and, given the many changes from the F-86, redesignated it YF-93A.