Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

F-86L Sabre/Mercury Test Capsule

— Air Power Park —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. F-86L Sabre/Mercury Test Capsule Marker

Inscription.

F-86L Sabre/Mercury Test Capsule. . , F-86L Sabre , No. 51-3064 . USAF . Fighter, The F-86L Sabre is an all-weather variant of the original F-86A, which gained fame in the skies over Korea in the early 1950s. The radar-equipped F-86L is substantially different from earlier Sabres. The F-86 began development in March 1949, with the first flight occurring on December 22 that same year. Eventually 2,504 airframes were built., This Sabre was manufactured by North American Aviation at Inglewood, California, was accepted by the USAF on February 27, 1953, and continued in service until March 1962. The aircraft was assigned to Air Training Command units at Tyndall AFB; Florida and Perrin AFB, Texas. This airframe was returned to the manufacturer where it was modified to F-86L-specifications. The colors and markings are for the 37th FIS/14th FIW at Ethan Allen AFB, Vermont. , On loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force, (captions) , Captain Jerrod Butler checks out his F-86D Sabre at Edwards Air Force Base, 6/29/1953. NARA, F-86D Sabre firing rockets from its retractable launch tray, July, 1953. NARA, Mercury Test Capsule , NASA . Testing, Test capsule for America's first manned spacecraft for Project Mercury. In the earliest days of NASA's manned space flight program, engineers designed a vehicle that would protect a human being from temperature extremes, vacuum, newly discovered radiation of space, and high temperatures of re-entry through the atmosphere. The best vehicle for these requirements was a wingless "capsule" designed for a ballistic reentry, with a heat shield that burned off as Mercury returned to Earth., The original seven Mercury astronauts and NASA's Space Task Group were based at nearby Langley Research Center from 1959 to 1963. The lifting ring at the top of this capsule indicates that it was likely used for helicopter recovery training. , (captions) , Mercury/Little Joe test capsules under assembly at NASA Langley Research Center, 7/30/1959. NASA., Mercury test capsule in the Full-Scale Wind Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center, 1/22/1959. NASA

F-86L Sabre
No. 51-3064 • USAF • Fighter

The F-86L Sabre is an all-weather variant of the original F-86A, which gained fame in the skies over Korea in the early 1950s. The radar-equipped F-86L is substantially different from earlier Sabres. The F-86 began development in March 1949, with the first flight occurring on December 22 that same year. Eventually 2,504 airframes were built.

This Sabre was manufactured by North American Aviation at Inglewood, California, was accepted by the USAF on February 27, 1953, and continued in service until March 1962. The aircraft was assigned to Air Training Command units at Tyndall AFB; Florida and Perrin AFB, Texas. This airframe was returned to the manufacturer where it was modified to F-86L-specifications. The colors and markings are for the 37th FIS/14th FIW at Ethan Allen AFB, Vermont.
On loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force

(captions)
Captain Jerrod Butler checks out his F-86D Sabre at Edwards Air Force Base, 6/29/1953. NARA

F-86D Sabre firing rockets from its retractable launch tray, July, 1953. NARA

Mercury Test Capsule
NASA • Testing

Test

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capsule for America's first manned spacecraft for Project Mercury. In the earliest days of NASA's manned space flight program, engineers designed a vehicle that would protect a human being from temperature extremes, vacuum, newly discovered radiation of space, and high temperatures of re-entry through the atmosphere. The best vehicle for these requirements was a wingless "capsule" designed for a ballistic reentry, with a heat shield that burned off as Mercury returned to Earth.

The original seven Mercury astronauts and NASA's Space Task Group were based at nearby Langley Research Center from 1959 to 1963. The lifting ring at the top of this capsule indicates that it was likely used for helicopter recovery training.
(captions)
Mercury/Little Joe test capsules under assembly at NASA Langley Research Center, 7/30/1959. NASA.

Mercury test capsule in the Full-Scale Wind Tunnel at NASA Langley Research Center, 1/22/1959. NASA

Erected by Hampton Air Power Park and Museum. (Marker Number 04/03.)

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Korean.

Location. 37° 2.615′ N,

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. F-86L Sabre/Mercury Test Capsule Marker

76° 21.997′ W. Memorial is in Hampton, Virginia. It is on West Mercury Boulevard (U.S. 258) 0.1 miles LaSalle Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the grounds of the Hampton Air Power Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 413 West Mercury Boulevard, Hampton VA 23666, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is on Virginia’s Peninsula

and in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Langley Field (here, next to this marker); NACA (here, next to this marker); NASA Space History (here, next to this marker); MIM-3 Nike-Ajax/XV-6A Kestrel (a

Mercury Test Capsule Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Mercury Test Capsule Marker

few steps from this marker); A-7E Corsair II / T-33A T-Bird (a few steps from this marker); F-100D Super Saber • Mercury/Little Joe Booster (within shouting distance of this marker); RF-4C Phantom II / M-2 (MGM-5) Corporal (within shouting distance of this marker); A-2 Polaris (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Other markers no longer nearby. A-7E Corsair II (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Mercury Test Capsule (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); T-33A T-Bird (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); M-2 Corporal (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.