North American FJ-2/-3 Fury

The North American FJ-2 and FJ-3 Fury were swept-wing, carrier-capable fighters for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, the navalized form of the Air Force F-86 Sabre. The Navy ordered the FJ-2 in 1951 as a stopgap against the MiG-15 and sent 300 (later 200) to be built before a prototype had flown. It had folding wings, a longer nose strut and a J47 turbojet, first flew in prototype form on 27 December 1951, and was used to evaluate the first steam catapult on a Navy carrier. Handling at low speed and the hook and nose gear proved unsatisfactory, so all 200 went to Marine squadrons. The FJ-3 added a Wright J65 engine, a deeper intake and later a cambered extended wing; 538 were built, and one was the first fighter to land on the supercarrier Forrestal in 1956. Examples are on display in several museums.