Argus Range QF-86H 4/11/08

Don’t have many details on the aircraft or the accident other than it’s a North American F-86H Sabre and crashed sometime before 1986 in the Argus Range. There's a good chance that it's ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:26:31 -0700

Joe Idoni
Don’t have many details on the aircraft or the accident other than it’s a North American F-86H Sabre and crashed sometime before 1986 in the Argus Range. There's a good chance that it's ...

Driving in off the highway. Tom showed me this site about a year ago, but by the time we got there the sun had aready set and we only had a short time to look around before we had to leave.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:49:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
Driving in off the highway. Tom showed me this site about a year ago, but by the time we got there the sun had aready set and we only had a short time to look around before we had to leave.

This was the starting point for the hike to the F-86 site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:49:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
This was the starting point for the hike to the F-86 site.

Lot of flowers out today.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:49:59 -0700

Joe Idoni
Lot of flowers out today.

Found this ball of smashed aluminum with electrical wire embedded in it on the slope.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:21 -0700

Joe Idoni
Found this ball of smashed aluminum with electrical wire embedded in it on the slope.

AN fitting.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:22 -0700

Joe Idoni
AN fitting.

Piece of the fuselage frame.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:23 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of the fuselage frame.

Looks like a engine part. So far only finding single pieces. The impact crater is still about 100 yards away.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:25 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like a engine part. So far only finding single pieces. The impact crater is still about 100 yards away.

The first group of wreckage. I remember these items from my last visit. Glad that I have all day to search the area this time. Looks like there is a lot of wreckage scattered over a large ar ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:50:00 -0700

Joe Idoni
The first group of wreckage. I remember these items from my last visit. Glad that I have all day to search the area this time. Looks like there is a lot of wreckage scattered over a large ar ...

One of the main landing gears with the brake still attached. Next to it is a piece of the wheel.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:30 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the main landing gears with the brake still attached. Next to it is a piece of the wheel.

Better view of the brake assembly.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:33 -0700

Joe Idoni
Better view of the brake assembly.

Nearby was an axle with the remains of the wheel hub from the other main gear.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:35 -0700

Joe Idoni
Nearby was an axle with the remains of the wheel hub from the other main gear.

Control surface, think it's part of one of the flaps.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:38 -0700

Joe Idoni
Control surface, think it's part of one of the flaps.

Piece of sheet metal. Looks like the Sabre was painted in camouflage. Was finding orange marking on a lot of the wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:39 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of sheet metal. Looks like the Sabre was painted in camouflage. Was finding orange marking on a lot of the wreckage.

This is the first piece I found with a part number. The 187 prefix indicats that this is F-86H.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:42 -0700

Joe Idoni
This is the first piece I found with a part number. The 187 prefix indicats that this is F-86H.

Looks like a piece of the lower wing skin. My foot is in the photo for size reference.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:43 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like a piece of the lower wing skin. My foot is in the photo for size reference.

Same piece turned over.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:45 -0700

Joe Idoni
Same piece turned over.

Parts from the engine. This is still aways from the impact aera.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:50:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
Parts from the engine. This is still aways from the impact aera.

Disc from the engine. Most of the blades are still attached.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:49 -0700

Joe Idoni
Disc from the engine. Most of the blades are still attached.

Close up of the blades.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close up of the blades.

Blade

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:54 -0700

Joe Idoni
Blade

Think these pieces are from the fuselage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:55 -0700

Joe Idoni
Think these pieces are from the fuselage.

Another piece with orange paint. When I got home, I looked through the China Lake Alumni website to try and find info on this Sabre. Found some photos of QF-86H drones that had camouflage pa ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another piece with orange paint. When I got home, I looked through the China Lake Alumni website to try and find info on this Sabre. Found some photos of QF-86H drones that had camouflage pa ...

This part is about two feet long and made from steel. Looks like a piece of the wing skin bolted to it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
This part is about two feet long and made from steel. Looks like a piece of the wing skin bolted to it.

Another wheel/brake assembly.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:11:59 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another wheel/brake assembly.

Different view of the same wheel.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
Different view of the same wheel.

No idea what this is from, but it has interesting looking nuts used to bolt it together.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
No idea what this is from, but it has interesting looking nuts used to bolt it together.

Piece of disc. Was finding pieces from the engine scrattered over a large area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:05 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of disc. Was finding pieces from the engine scrattered over a large area.

This is what I thought was the most interesting piece of wreckage at the site. It's the leading edge/tip section of the left tailplane.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:07 -0700

Joe Idoni
This is what I thought was the most interesting piece of wreckage at the site. It's the leading edge/tip section of the left tailplane.

Bottom side. Figure it's about 20% of the left tailplane.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:09 -0700

Joe Idoni
Bottom side. Figure it's about 20% of the left tailplane.

Closer view of the tip.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:11 -0700

Joe Idoni
Closer view of the tip.

Maybe a actuator or dampener???

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:12 -0700

Joe Idoni
Maybe a actuator or dampener???

Pieces from the wings.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:13 -0700

Joe Idoni
Pieces from the wings.

Think that this is another piece from the wing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:15 -0700

Joe Idoni
Think that this is another piece from the wing.

Looks like part of a gyro.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:17 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like part of a gyro.

Motor or generator, it's about 8 inches in diameter.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:19 -0700

Joe Idoni
Motor or generator, it's about 8 inches in diameter.

Looks like this could be a liner for a fuel tank.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:21 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like this could be a liner for a fuel tank.

This fitting was next to liner.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:23 -0700

Joe Idoni
This fitting was next to liner.

Another part number with the 187 prefix. There are also three North American inspection stamps on this part.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:24 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another part number with the 187 prefix. There are also three North American inspection stamps on this part.

Short piece of flex line. The screw on the left has a helicoil insert on it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:26 -0700

Joe Idoni
Short piece of flex line. The screw on the left has a helicoil insert on it.

This six foot long piece of mangled metal is from the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:28 -0700

Joe Idoni
This six foot long piece of mangled metal is from the engine.

Broken disc.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:29 -0700

Joe Idoni
Broken disc.

Maybe a piece of the wing spar. The plates on top and bottom are set into slots.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:31 -0700

Joe Idoni
Maybe a piece of the wing spar. The plates on top and bottom are set into slots.

Actuator

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:33 -0700

Joe Idoni
Actuator

The Sabre's impact crater.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:50:02 -0700

Joe Idoni
The Sabre's impact crater.

Me inside the crater holding part of the nose gear. All the wreckage starts here and is scattered behind me.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:50:03 -0700

Joe Idoni
Me inside the crater holding part of the nose gear. All the wreckage starts here and is scattered behind me.

Lot of small pieces next to the crater.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:38 -0700

Joe Idoni
Lot of small pieces next to the crater.

Hinge

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:39 -0700

Joe Idoni
Hinge

This part was in the crater. It's made of steel, no idea what it is. Found another one about hundred feet away.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:40 -0700

Joe Idoni
This part was in the crater. It's made of steel, no idea what it is. Found another one about hundred feet away.

Landing gear leg.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:41 -0700

Joe Idoni
Landing gear leg.

This part is from one of the four 20mm Pontaic M-39 cannons that the H models were armed with. Tom showed me a photo of him with two of the cannons back when he first found the site. They ar ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:42 -0700

Joe Idoni
This part is from one of the four 20mm Pontaic M-39 cannons that the H models were armed with. Tom showed me a photo of him with two of the cannons back when he first found the site. They ar ...

This is the largest piece of the General Electric J-73-GE-3 engine at the site. It's sitting on the edge of the crater.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:50:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
This is the largest piece of the General Electric J-73-GE-3 engine at the site. It's sitting on the edge of the crater.

A side view of the engine showing how it was compressed from the impact. All the blades have been sheared off.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:49:55 -0700

Joe Idoni
A side view of the engine showing how it was compressed from the impact. All the blades have been sheared off.

Top view of the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:47 -0700

Joe Idoni
Top view of the engine.

Large piece from the fuselage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:49 -0700

Joe Idoni
Large piece from the fuselage.

Piece of wing skin, it's about eight feet long.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:50 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of wing skin, it's about eight feet long.

Another steel part from the wing. It's like the one I came upon earlier.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:51 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another steel part from the wing. It's like the one I came upon earlier.

This wreckage is just below the crater.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
This wreckage is just below the crater.

Accordioned sheet metal.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:54 -0700

Joe Idoni
Accordioned sheet metal.

Trailing edge of a control surface.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
Trailing edge of a control surface.

This is the same trailing edge in the last photo showing it's honeycomb stucture.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
This is the same trailing edge in the last photo showing it's honeycomb stucture.

A highly mashed piece of electronic equipment was the last piece of wreckage I came upon while starting the hike back to the truck.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:12:58 -0700

Joe Idoni
A highly mashed piece of electronic equipment was the last piece of wreckage I came upon while starting the hike back to the truck.

Driving out back to the highway. This site turned out to be a great site. Looks like there's about 10-15% of the Sabre remaining at the site. THE END

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:13:00 -0700

Joe Idoni
Driving out back to the highway. This site turned out to be a great site. Looks like there's about 10-15% of the Sabre remaining at the site. THE END