The P-51 Mustang was apparently known as the F-51 in the Korean War. What was one of the most formidable and effective air superiority machines in WW2 was, only 5 years later relegated mainly to a ground attack role. The jet age had begun.
"The F-80 Shooting Star was flying in Italy in January 1945 but didn't see combat.
On the 8th of November 1950 a Shooting Star shot down a MiG-15 in what is thought to be the first jet to jet air combat encounter. The first 4 months of the Korean war saw the F-80 bearing the brunt of the combat with over 15,000 sorties being flown."
"The F84 ThunderJet often ran out of runway in the hot Korean weather and was known as the ""Groundhog"" because of this reluctance to become airborne. I noticed fairly quickly in MiG Alley that on take-off it is important to keep the flaps down until the speed has built up and to keep the climb out fairly shallow.
Other fliers have reported that a ""flaps up"" setting is best for takeoff, with a very shallow climb out... barely clearing the treetops at about 2 degrees climb angle."
The aircraft in MiG Alley use the classic "Finger Four" formation. This was known to Commonwealth pilots (Canadian and Australian) as "High Battle Formation". According to Christie Harris, who flew for the RCAF in the 1950's, "You started as a wingman, with three practically foolproof opportunities for disaster.
F-86 Sabre extended dogfight in MiG Alley by Rowan (1999)
One of MiGMan's wobbly test flights! This video is more for the enthusiast, consisting as it does of 3 minutes dogfight footage of the F-86 Sabre in this classic sim.
One of MiGMan's wobbly test flights! This video is more for the enthusiast, consisting as it does of 3 minutes dogfight footage of the F-86 Sabre in this classic sim.