The T-39 Sabreliner was an American business jet that was developed by North American Aviation and used by the United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Named the “Sabreliner” after similarities in design to that of the F-86 Sabre, the airplane was produced from 1959-1982 and was used extensively as an executive transport, for training, and as a cargo carrier. In total, approximately 800 Sabreliners were manufactured, of which over 200 were for United States military use (the remaining Sabreliners were used in the civilian market).  The airplane requires a minimum flight crew of two and could carry up to seven passengers. Interestingly, the Sabreliner is the only business jet authorized for aerobatics and is used as a training platform for pilots to simulate real-world disaster and recovery scenarios.

The Museum’s T-39 Sabreliner was built by North American Aviation in Inglewood, California and accepted by the United States Air Force on July 19, 1961. Used by the Air Force as an executive transport, this airplane, beginning in May 1978, served with the Air Force’s 89th Military Airlift Group at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland as part of the service’s “Special Air Mission.” Aircraft of this group provide aerial transportation to United States Government (and foreign) dignitaries such as the President, Vice-President, Cabinet, Congressional delegations, and other high-ranking Americans. The Museum’s Sabreliner remained with the 89th Military Airlift Group until sometime in 1984 when it reassigned to the 63rd Military Aircraft Wing at Norton Air Force Base California. In September 1985, after logging a total of 9,869 hours, the airplane was retired to the Air Force’s Aerospace Mainteneance & Regeneration Center (AMARC). The airplane was subsequently acquired by the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum of Hillsboro, Oregon around 2010 who then