Sabreliner | |
---|---|
General information | |
Type | Trainer aircraft Business jet |
Manufacturer | North American Aviation Rockwell International |
Status | In active service |
Primary users | United States Air Force |
Number built | 800+[1] |
History | |
Manufactured | 1959–1982 |
Introduction date | 1962 |
First flight | September 16, 1958[2] |
The North American Sabreliner, later sold as the Rockwell Sabreliner, is an American mid-sized business jet developed by North American Aviation. It was offered to the United States Air Force (USAF) in response to its Utility Trainer Experimental (UTX) program. It was named "Sabreliner" due to the similarity of the wing and tail to North American's F-86 Sabre jet fighter.[2] Military variants, designated T-39 Sabreliner, were used by the USAF, United States Navy (USN), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) after the USAF placed an initial order in 1959.[3] The Sabreliner was also developed into a commercial variant.