All-weather Fighter

North American XP-86 took to the air for the first time on October 1st 1947. Model F-86K went into production intended especially for the member states of NATO. Development of the model K started in 1953. More than 350 were produced in USA and Italy. F-86K became for most receiving country their first all-weather fighter, i.e. capable of intercepting and downing enemy aircraft in darkness or bad weather with the help of its own radar.

Norway decided early in the fifties to obtain all-weather fighters. The foundation for a modern fighter defence operating under adverse conditions, was laid down when the Early Warning System was established. The first F-86K arrived at Gardermoen in September 1955. After a while four Norwegian squadrons were equipped with F-86K. During 1966 the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter was introduced in The Norwegian Air Force, and on July 14^th 1967 the last of the F-86K of 334 Squadron landed.

The stored F 86 K is owned by the Armed Forces Museum.