The IF-52 Sabre is the Black Eagle Variant of Imperial Industries' poster aircraft, the IF-51 Wyrm.

Upon the breakthrough of a highly expensive invention by Silver Wing Industries, the IF-52 Sabre is equipped with the cutting edge Hover Engine. A strange name, since it doesn't allow hovering, unless the pilot tried hard enough, It can, however, work for nearly an eternity. That was its theory, anyway, but maintaining the piece that converts air into plasma that then propels the plane is quite difficult. Requiring a metal that can be found only where the Guardian wyrms slumber, Draconium, it is durable, and will last forever under normal conditions, but its conversion methods are terribly taxing on Draconium. It filters air through an inlet, and once it reaches the central part of the engine, the Draconium violently vibrates at a rate that rattles the very atoms of the air, and eventually convert it, somehow, to plasma, and is then shot out through the rear, creating thrust.
Constant vibrations, friction with the engine itself, and the heat of the plasma, along with the noise it generates, Draconium wouldn't last for more than 5 months of constant use.

While the IF-52's engines can go on for a while without repair, when it eventually does, its not easy to get Draconium. There's only so many of them, and they take ages to form around a Guardian Wyrm. And, since its a metal, its protected by trade laws, which means if the metal isn't within the manufacturer's country's borders, they have to buy it. And its rather difficult to find anyone willing to sell Draconium.

The IF-52's capabilities do, however, outshine its cost. Since it requires no conventional fuel, it is already much lighter than its Imperial Counterparts. Because its much lighter, it then becomes much more maneuverable. Its control surfaces, minus the ailerons, remain similar to the Imperial variants. Adding that to the lighter weight, it gives the IF-52 a much quicker turn rate, and a smaller turning circle. Not only is it highly maneuverable, its also incredibly fast, nearing 2000 km/h. Its wing load is exactly the same as the IF-51, but it has better guns, to be specific, 2 Vulcan G-2s mounted in the nose, where the Gatling 1-c, found in the IF-51, sits.

Because of its higher speed, some of the wings needed to be shortened, 'less they themselves will snap off. As such, the tips of the main wing was shortened, and to compensate for the less space for the aileron, it was decided that it would take up the entire space of the tip instead. It didn't help much, but without it, rolling would be dreadful. In fact, the roll rate of the IF-52 is the worst thing about it, but its only a big problem on slow speeds.

Most missiles can't even keep up with the IF-52, as its too maneuverable, but that itself is a problem for its pilot. A special suit was designed to allow the pilot to sustain all the pressures the IF-52 could impose upon its pilots. While it remains mostly classified, it is known that the new suit is designed to inject a fluid that numbs the brain of the feeling of weight, and the suit itself actively inflates whenever a turn is tighter than 5 Gs, to an extent that barely differs from being in a zero G environment. How it achieves this is classified.

The noise the engine emits is also rather dangerous. It can be so loud that it could kill a person who would hear it from close up without any protection. And the standard military grade earmuffs are hard-pressed to allow its wearer to operate around a running Hover Engine comfortably. As such, there is a special branch within the Black Eagles that deals with operating and maintaining the IF-52 Sabre. Secluded, tightly guarded, and elite. They are simply known as the Order Marshalls, also known as O.M. 52. They have specialized equipment to deal with the IF-52 Sabre, and thus, have little problems. They have privileges similar to that of a Chapter Master, with some differences.

The IF-52 Sabre is named after the Knight's Black Eagle's Grandmaster and patron saint, St.Sabre, and like him, it dances through the sky like a sabre would, in the right hands. Although untested in battle, it is estimated that the IF-52 Sabre will be a demon of the sky. Ironic, as the Knights Black Eagle has a colourful history with flying demons, back in the first great Demon Incursion, back in the year 1444, Age of Legends.

"Once, we fought flying demons with ballistae, arrows, bolts and javelins. Now, we fly one that no modern weapon can harm" ~St.Sabre's comment when first showed the concept of the IF-52.