According to something I saw on the History Channel yesterday,
the F-86 had an all-flying tail (though they used another term)
first developed for the X-1 (called XS-1). It enabled pitch control
in the transonic region, without which supersonic flight could not
have been achieved, and it made the F-86 a much better dogfighting
aircraft at transonic speeds.
Did the Soviets learn about the all-flying tail from the
captured F-86, and put it on their later fighters
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Stephen Harding ) wrote:
: "Smithsonian Air and Space" has an interesting article describing Soviet
: attempts to get their hands on an F-86 during the Korean War.

: A first plan was developed to use specially trained pilots of MiG-15s to
: actually box in a candidate F-86 and force him down at a Communist base.

: The Russian CO of the Soviet AF unit actually fighting in Korea (USAF pilots
: had come to suspect they were fighting Russians rather than NKs or Chinese
: but there was still nothing official known about their presence), thought
: the plan idiocy, and this was proven with the gradual shoot down of many
: in the unit attempting to corral a Saber.

: But an F-86A eventually went down and was hauled off, barely making an
: escape from an attacking B-26. The aircraft was tested and quite a few
: features found their way into MiG-15 and 17.

: One of the most useful knowledge gains was with the radar controlled gunsight
: used on the F-86. Very accurate and helping tilt the balance of light
: weaponry of the F-86 (6 .50 MG) against the MiG (37 and 23mm cannon).

: The Soviets developed a reciever that listened specifically for the wavelength
: of the gunsight radar, thus giving the Soviet pilot some warning of
: approaching USAF Sabers. It was prone to give false readings, but was an
: overall invaluable feature. The life of its developer was probably saved
: by its success since he had the misfortune of being "politically incorrect"
: enough to be "denounced" at a time when it meant the Gulag or worse.

: This electronic device is standard part of any modern fighter aircraft
: indicating "radar lock" from targeting AAA/missiles.


: SMH