A North American F86D sweptwing, all-weather jet interceptor, powered by a General Electric J-47-17 engine with an afterburner, blazed across the east end of the Salton Sea near here last month to a new official speed record for jet aircraft. The time was 699.9 miles per hour. It shattered the old record of 670.981 miles an hour set in 1948 by an F-86A model of the famous Sabrejet powered by one of the earlier models of the GE J-47 jet engines. Air Force Capt. J. Slade Nash (above left), who was at the controls of the F86D, is congratulated on his performance by Colonel Fred J. Ascani, Director of the Flight Test and Development Division at the Air Force Flight Test Center. Col. Ascani is the current holder of the World's closed course speed record, also accomplished with a North American Sabrejet

General Electric Company1952-12-01