Ex-Italian Air Force arrived on June 12th and repainted just in time for the 60th Anniversary Air Show of the KLu.

This former Italian Air Force F-86K MM53-8305 flew to the Netherlands on 12 June 1973 to be repainted in RNLAF colors for preservation, representing Q-305. The real Q-305 had USAF serial 54-1305 and was scrapped at Soesterberg in October 1964, after only eight years of service. The RNLAF scrapped all of its remaining F-86Ks in the early 1960s, not even keeping one for the museum. What a waste... Fortunately, the Italian Air Force came to rescue the Dutch. This aircraft is in splendid condition and carries the markings of the unit of the original Q-305: 700 sqn.

Fake serial - AMI MM53-8305.

In the markings of 700 squadron. The genuine Q-305 was scrapped. The Italian Air Force provided this F-86K (MM53-8305) for display.

Actually former AMI F-86K MM53-8305. Normally this aircraft is kept in the museum's storage shelters and not accessible for the public.

The Netherlands air force operated three squadrons of F-86K single-seat night fighters between 1955 and 1964. I suppose it was the K in the designation that led to the nickname Kaasjager (literally, cheese fighter) after police constable Hendrik Kaasjager who proposed to fill up some of Amsterdam's famous canals to ease automobile traffic.