# What is 'AB' in 1950s fighter jets?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-ab-in-1950s-fighter-jets/807733>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 29, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-ab-in-1950s-fighter-jets/807733 "2018-01-29T15:57:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-ab-in-1950s-fighter-jets/807733/1 "2018-01-29T15:57:51Z")

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♬ \*Don’t give me an 86D  
With rockets, radar, **and AB**.  
She’s fast, I don’t care  
She blows up in mid-air.  
Don’t give me an 86D… \*♬

From the song _Give Me Operations_.

What is ‘AB’ that this F-86D has?

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-ab-in-1950s-fighter-jets/807733/2 "2018-01-29T16:01:16Z")

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Afterburner, most likely.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-ab-in-1950s-fighter-jets/807733/3 "2018-01-29T16:02:58Z")

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> [@Darwins\_Finch](#):
>
> Afterburner, most likely.

:smack:

I _knew_ that years ago, but it didn’t come to my mind! :smack:

Thanks.