Australian CAC Sabres operations at RAAF Butterworth in Malaysia (1960)

The CAC Sabre, sometimes known as the Avon Sabre or CA-27, is an Australian variant of the North American Aviation F-86F Sabre fighter aircraft. The F-86F was redesigned and built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC); powered by a licence-built version of the Rolls-Royce Avon , rather than the General Electric J47. In theory, the Avon was capable of more than double the maximum thrust and double the thrust-to-weight ratio of the US engine. This necessitated a re-design of the fuselage, as the Avon was shorter, wider and lighter than the J47. The Royal Australian Air Force operated the CA-27 from 1954 to 1971, equipping five RAAF squadrons. excerpts from newsreel produced by the Directorate of Public Relations RAAF