Near Hickory in Burke County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

North American FJ-3 "Fury"

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

1. North American FJ-3 "Fury" Marker

Inscription.
The Hickory Aviation Museum's FJ-3M Bureau #141393 is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It was delivered in Oct 1991. It is our museum's 1st aircraft.

Role FJ-2 to FJ-3 aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer North American Aviation
First flight 27 December 1951
Introduction 1954
Retired September 1962
Status Phased out of service
Primary users United States Navy • United States Marine Corps
Number built 538 FJ-3M 194
Developed from North American F-86 Sabre
Developed into North American FJ-4 Fury
Propulsion (J-3) Wright J65-W-2/4 turbojet
Unit cost $220K

FJ-2 to FJ-3
By 1951, the Navy's existing straight-wing fighters were much inferior in performance to the swept-wing Soviet MiG-15 then operating in the Korean War; the swept-wing fighters in the Navy's development pipeline, including the Vought F7U Cutlass and F9F Cougar that were not yet ready for deployment. As an interim measure, the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics ordered a direct development of the swept-wing F-86E Sabres as the FJ-2. As the F-86 had not been designed to be carrier-capable, this involved some risk,

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but Navy pilots had observed that the F-86A actually had a lower landing speed than the F9F Panther. Even while development of the FJ-2 was ongoing, the development was planned of a version powered by the Wright J-65-W-2, a license-built version of the British Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire tubojet with 7,650 lb thrust. The Sapphire promised to deliver 28% more thrust than the J47, for little gain in weight. The new version was designated F1-3, and an order for 389 aircraft was placed in March 1952.

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 37 ft 7 in (11.45 m)
Wingspan: 37 ft 1.5 in (11.31 m)
Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Wing area: 288 ft² (26.7 m²)
Empty weight: 11,802 lb (5,353 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 18,790 lb (8,523 kg).
Powerplant: 1 x General Electric J47-GE 2 turbojet, 6,000 lbf (26.7 kN)

Performance
Maximum speed: 675 mph at sea level
Range: 860 mi
Service ceiling: 46,800 ft (14,300 m)
Rate of climb: 7,230 ft/min (2,204 m/min)

Armament
Guns: 4 x 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon
Hardpoints:AIM-9 Sidewinders, Bombs, Refueling

Erected by Hickory Aviation Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these

North American FJ-3 "Fury" nose section and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

2. North American FJ-3 "Fury" nose section and marker

topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, Cold • War, Korean. A significant historical date for this entry is December 27, 1951.

Location. 35° 44.487′ N, 81° 23.37′ W. Marker is near Hickory, North Carolina, in Burke County. It is on 9th Avenue Drive Northwest 0.6 miles west of 24th Street Northwest, on the left when traveling west. The marker and aircraft display are part of the Hickory Aviation Museum located at Hickory Regional Airport. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3101 9th Ave Dr NW, Hickory NC 28601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in 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

Full left side view North American FJ-3 "Fury" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

3. Full left side view North American FJ-3 "Fury"

of this marker: Grumann F-9 "Cougar" (here, next to this marker); Curtiss XF15C-1 "Stingeree" (a few steps from this marker); Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 "Corsair" II (a few steps from this marker); Republic F-105 "Thunderchief" (a few steps from this marker); Lockheed T-33 "Shooting Star" (a few steps from this marker); Northrop F-5 "Tiger II" (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F-14D "Tomcat" (a few steps from this marker); Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hickory.

North American FJ-3 "Fury" tail section with serial #141393 as referenced in marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, November 14, 2025

4. North American FJ-3 "Fury" tail section with serial #141393 as referenced in marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 24, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.