A stupid question for Korean War buffs

[Heck 496]

The four black lines painted under the tails of some Sabres that flew in Korea, what were they for? I have the suspicion that they marked placement points for the dolly that held the tail during engine replacement, but that's just my guess. No specific reason, just wanted to know if I was right. Some Sabres have them in photos, and some don't.

 

[+Gepard 11,303]

I really dont know, for what the stripes were used. But i will ask this question in a german air forum. Surely there are specialists who know the answer.

[Wrench 9,848]

basicly, the same as WW2 Invasion stripes -- they were for IDing friendly aircraft. They were later changed to the yellow bordered by black.

 

simply because the F86 and MiG15 look so similiar

[+Gunrunner 314]

As far I know you are correct, the red one is the center of gravity of the tail assembly, the black lines are where the tail is supposed to meet the dolly used to roll the tail away (supposedly because they are the sections able to withstand the tail assembly weight), see this :

.

On some planes there used to be another red line behind the canopy denoting the aircraft's center of gravity, probably to help when having to crane them for shipment or something.

Edited May 8, 2017 by Gunrunner

[+Gepard 11,303]

I really dont know, for what the stripes were used. But i will ask this question in a german air forum. Surely there are specialists who know the answer.

 

The best answer i got is, that it had something to do with the engine change. The rear section could be removed. The stripes are placed at the position, where the tail should placed on the caddy (hope this is the correct english term).

By the way, at the MiG-15, 17 and 21, the tail section could be removed too, but there were no such markings.

[Czech6 15]

From that video it appears to me that the four black lines were where you placed the two cross members on the tail section dolly (between each pair of black lines) and the red line is where you placed the tail section dolly's tie-down strap.  Center of gravity location would have been much further back than the red line because of the weight of the horizontal and vertical tail sections.  Thus the tie-down strap.

[+Gunrunner 314]

You're right, it doesn't make sense for it to be the CG, guess this is a confusion with the other red line in the source I found (or, just as probable, I got confused).

Edited May 8, 2017 by Gunrunner

[Wrench 9,848]

as stated in Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, Sabre Aces of the 4th Fighter Group: see the attached page, with special reference to the caption of the photo.

 

(don't you think the guy that DID all the work on these wouldn't have done his research?? Also, check the readme for the F-86s, and you'll see that the skins change in 1952 to the yellow/black stripe)

 

it has absolutely NOTHING to do with engine servicing

[Heck 496]

My bad, Wrench. I wasn't clear in my original post what I was talking about. See the picture below, where I stopped being lazy and marked the stripes I was talking about. Sorry.

 

 

I know, I'm a lazy dufuss.

[luk1978 210]

[TeargasHorse 287]

That's a great question, Heck! I had no idea, and never even thought about them. My first thought was a formation marker or something. Sling marker...a-ha...very clever!

[Do335 382]

aha! i'd also wondered what it was for.

 

although.. there could be less confusing wayz to mark stuff i suppose, like i'm sure everybody would just know with this.

 

Edited May 9, 2017 by Do335

[Heck 496]

 

Thanks. luk1978. This is why I love this site. Access to so much little known information here, on topics we all love.