[
made reference to "recent scholarship" of F-86 v MiG-15 combat over Korea and concluded that the actual kill:loss ratio for the F-86 was 1.8:1 overall, and likely closer to 1.3:1 against MiGs flown by Soviet pilots. Based on Soviet archival data, 335 Soviet MiG-15s are known to have been admitted as lost by the Soviets over Korea.Chinese claims of their losses amount to 224 MiG-15s over Korea. North Korean losses are not known, but according to North Korean defectors their air force lost around 100 MiG-15s during the war. Thus a total of 659 MiG-15s are admitted as being lost, all but a handful to F-86 Sabres, while USAF claims of their losses amount to 78 F-86 Sabres,.Of the 41 American pilots who earned the designation of ace during the Korean war, all but one flew the F-86 Sabre, the exception being a Navy Vought F4U Corsair night fighter pilot.
Source - Wikipedia
The Process of Building the Console
To do justice to the iconic plane, Woodcock spent weeks researching the design details before building his first prototype and then spent weeks perfecting the prototype. What follows is a highly condensed view of the process.
Step One - The Mockup
From several actual F-86 Sabres and photographs, Woodcock designed the overall shape, size, and composition of the finished piece.
Step Two – The Woodwork
Woodcock learned to craft fine wood furniture from his father’s woodworking business, and a long successful career creating and restoring millwork and furniture for corporate environments and the hospitality industry with Waldmachers Restoration. The craftsmanship and attention to detail here show the many steps of laminating a perfect curve to emulate the side of the aircraft. Clamps, straps, and blocks hold the piece during the critical drying process without damaging the finish.
Step Three – The Metalwork
Woodcock selected a 1000 annealed aluminum for the aircraft skin. While authentic aircraft skin would have been an alloy of aluminum, copper, and magnesium, the pure aluminum is consistently shiny with little maintenance required.
Seams and rivet detail were added, and then the surface was perfected and polished with nine different grades of abrasive paper and compounds.
Step Four - Paint and Stenciling
An authentic, traditional insignia for the SabreJet is applied next, including the iconic yellow striping. “Finding the right font to match the photographs I had of this aircraft took time,” said Woodcock. “The stenciling was done on this piece in the same way it would have been done on the aircraft.”
Step Five - Final Details
The gray interior of the mounting area for the TV was copied from a shade he’d seen on the inside of speed-brakes on a restored aircraft. While green may have been a more traditional choice, Woodcock felt that green would be distracting from the TV. The articulating mounting bracket for the TV allows the screen to be adjusted, tilted however best suits the environment.
The piece is designed to be mounted to the wall using a Johnson cleat or French cleat. Power and data outlets and cords can be hidden by the console.
The TV is cleverly mounted, to allow the owner easy access to USB ports and other connections; the video files can be loaded manually, or use a network connection to provide television or network data to the screen.
Acquiring Flight Level Furnishings
Custom, handmade furnishings are available for many different needs and budgets.
The first step is to arrange a free consultation with Flight Level Furnishings to discuss the space, your clientele, your needs, and budget. Some pieces are immediately available for lease or purchase, some may require customization, and some are limited releases. Some handmade pieces, such as the Flight Level Signature Desk, are available by position order only.
The F-86 Console is quite versatile and can be adapted to the size and needs of the space. A consultation with the facilities manager may be required to coordinate mounting and wiring options.
Contact Randy for great ideas for your next coffee table, office desk, wall art or other fine furniture.
About Flight Level Furnishings
Randy Woodcock of Flight Level Furnishings creates fine furniture pieces that combine wood, metal, glass, and colors for home, office or commercial décor. A passion for aviation, craftsmanship, and architectural finishing is included in each design. Aircraft parts and inspiration are used whenever practical. Flight Level Furnishings is located in Montgomery, Texas, and can be reached at 281-639-6397, online at FlightLevelFurnishings.com, and can be found on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram...
