Authentic Korean-Era Aircraft

The Most Experienced
MiG/Sabre Dogfight Team
in the World!

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was originally developed in the Soviet Union as an interceptor. The prototype MiG-15 first flew in December 1947. It was powered by the RD-45 turbojet, which was a copy of the Rolls Royce Nene.

Designed to shoot down heavy bombers, th MiG-15 carried one 37mm and two 23mm cannons. The MiG-15 was deployed against American forces in December, 1950 in Korea. I(nitial encounters with American aircraft led to the development of the MiG-15bis (improved which had more powerful engine and hydraulic aileron boosters.

Although the MiG-15bis could climb faster and higher than the F-86, its dogfight performance was limited by poor turning performance and high mach instability. In aerial combat against the F-28, the MiG-15 suffered high losses, but against the B-29, it was very effective and prevented the bombers from operating in daylight.

North American F-86F "Sabre"

The F-86, the USAF's first swept-wing jet fighter, made its initial flight on October 1, 1947. The first production model flew on May 20, 1948 and on September 15, 1948, an F-86A set a new world speed record of 670.9 mph. Originally designed as a high-altitude day fighter, it was subsequently redesigned into an all-weather interceptor (F-86-D) and a Fighter bomber (F-86H).

As a day fighter, the airplane saw service in Korea on three successive series (F-86A, E, and F) where it engaged the Russian-built MiG-15. By the end of the hostilities, it had shot down 792 MiGs at loss of only 76 Sabres -- a victory ratio of more than 10 to 1.

More than 5,500 Sabre day-fighters were built in the US and Canada. The airplane was also used by the air forces of 20 other nations, including West Germany, Japan, Spain, Britain and Australia.

The Dogfight Pilots

Mike Keenum is a Certified Orthopedic Specialist in physical therapy. He is the owner of Orthosport Physical Therapy which operates six outpatient clinics throughout the Chicagoland area. Mike is married and the father of three teenage daughters. He is past president and past vice president of Lifeline Pilots, a charitable flying organization which provides free transportation to patients in need. (Mike has flown more than 40,000 miles in the last nine years.) Mike served in the U.S. Air Force from 1968 to 1972 as a crew chief on F105s and F106s. He received his pilot's license in 1984 and has earned fixed-wing instrument, commercial and multi-emgine ratings, as well as a commercial rotorcraft rating. In addition to the Sabre, Mike owns and operates a 1941 Stearman and a King Air 300, as well as a Hawker Sea Fury, which former astronaut "Hoot" Gibson raced at Reno this year (1998). Mike has a low-level aerobatic waiver in the F-86 and has been performing in airshows since 1995. He has accumulated more than 4,000 flight hours.

The other half of the "MiG/Sabre Dogfight" is Terry Klingele, an ophthalmologist in Belleville, Illinois. Terry has more than 2,500 hours in jet fighter aircraft and several thousand hours in the Pitts Special, Cessna 180 and Beech Baron. Terry is also a D-rated skydiver and a ratedrotorcraft and glider pilot. In 1958, Terry entered the NAVCAD program at Pensacola, Florida where he trained in T34s. as one of the first students to enter jet basic training in the T2V Sea Star, Terry became carrier-qualified aboard the USS Antiet50%am. He underwent advanced training at Chase Field, Texas in the F9F, and received his wings in June 1960 at the age of 21. As a second lieutenant in the USMC, Terry went to El Toro for training in the Douglas F4D Skyray and was a member of VMF-513 for 2-1/2 years. He underwent carrier qualification cruises on the USS Lexington and USS Hancock. His squadron was deployed to Atsugi, Japan as well as Naha, Okinawa and Cubi Point, Philippines. Upon his return to the states, Terry was an instructor pilot with VMT-2 where he trained multi-engine and helicopter pilots in the transition to jet fighters. At the end of his tour, Terry left active duty and flew A4D Skyhawks with the Alameda Reserve Unit in California. He entered medical school in 1966 at the University of California after which he returnedto Illinois and began his practice in Belleville in 1974. In 1993, Terry began flying the MiG-15bis, and in 1994 he added the MiG-17. Terry now owns both a MiG-15bis and a MiG-17F, but uses the MiG-15bis for the dogfight routine. He has a surface-level aerobatic waiver in the MiG-15, MiG-17 and F-86F.mr