P-80 Shooting Star

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

P-80 (F-80) Shooting Star
P-80A-5-LO
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Designed by	Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
Maiden flight	1944-06-10
Introduced	1945
Status	Retired
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	1,715
Unit cost	US$110,000 in 1945[1]
Variants	T-33 Shooting Star F-94 Starfire

The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces. The P-59A Airacomet preceded the P-80, but it was produced in small numbers and did not enter operation. The P-80 was one of the first operational jet fighter to have its engine integrated within the main fuselage, first seen in and pioneered by the P-59 Airacomet (other early jet fighters had their engines in external pods for easier maintenance of the early turbojets), and one that that would be used by nearly all subsequent fighter aircraft.

Contents 1 Development 2 Operation 2.1 Korea 2.2 Costs 3 Variants 4 Foreign operators 5 Specifications (P-80A/F-80) 6 References 7 External links 8 Related content

[edit] Development

Concept work began on the XP-80 in 1943 with a design being built around the blueprint dimensions of a British de Havilland H1 B turbojet, a powerplant to which the design team did not have actual access. Lockheed's team, consisting of 28 engineers, was led by the legendary Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson. This teaming was an early product of Lockheed's Skunk Works, which would surface again in the next decade to produce a line of high performing aircraft beginning with the F-104 Starfighter. The XP-80 was a conventional, all-metal airframe with a slim low wing and tricycle undercarriage (landing gear).

The first prototype (44-83020), nicknamed Lulu-Belle (and also known as "the Green Hornet" because of its green paint scheme), flew on June 10, 1944, just 143 days after design work commenced, which was a full 37 days ahead of schedule. Lulu-Belle was powered by a replacement Halford H1 (later "Goblin") taken from the prototype de Havilland Vampire and shipped to the States after the original flight engine was accidentally destroyed. Following its first flight Clarence Johnson said: "It was a magnificent demonstration, our plane was a success -- such a complete success that it had overcome the temporary advantage the Germans had gained from years of preliminary development on jet planes.".

The second prototype, designated XP-80A, was designed for the larger GE I-40 (later designated J-33) engine, with two aircraft (44-83021 and 44-83022) built. 44-83021 was nicknamed the "Gray Ghost" after its "pearl gray" paint scheme, while the second XP-80A, left unpainted for comparison of flight characteristics, became known as the "Silver Ghost". Tony LeVier made the first test flight on January 8, 1944. The first test flight was unimpressive, but most of the problems with the design were soon addressed and corrected in the test program. Initial opinions of the I-40 powered P-80A were not positive, with Lockheed chief engineeing test pilot Milo Burcham commenting that an aircraft that he very much enjoyed (powered by the Halford engine) had now become a "dog". The XP-80A's were primarily test beds for bigger engines and intake duct design, and consequently were larger and 25% heavier than the XP-80.

The P-80 testing program proved very dangerous. Burcham was killed on October 20, 1944 while flying the third YP-80A produced, 44-83025. The "Gray Ghost" was lost on a test flight on March 20, 1945, although pilot Tony LeVier successfully parachuted. Newly promoted to chief engineering test pilot to replace Burcham, LeVier bailed out when one of the engine's turbine blades broke, causing structural failure in the airplane's tail. LeVier landed hard and broke his back, but returned to the test program after six months of recovery. Noted ace Major Richard Bong was also killed on an acceptance flight of a production P-80 in the United States on August 6, 1945. Both pilots crashed as a result of main fuel pump failure. Burcham's death was the result of a failure to brief him on a newly installed emergency fuel pump backup system, but the investigation of Bong's crash found that he had apparently forgotten to switch on the emergency fuel pump that could have prevented the accident. He successfully bailed out when the aircraft rolled inverted but was too close to the ground for his parachute to deploy.

[edit] Operation

The Shooting Star began to enter service in late 1944 with 12 pre-production YP-80A's (a 13th YP-80A was modified to the only F-14 photo reconnaissance model and lost in a December crash), one of which was destroyed in the accident that killed Burcham. 4 were sent to Europe for operational testing (two to England and two to the 1st Fighter Group at Lesina, Italy) but when test pilot Major Frederic Borsodi was killed in a crash caused by an engine fire on January 28, 1945, demonstrating YP-80A 44-83026 at RAF Burtonwood, the YP-80A was temporarily grounded. Because of the delay the Shooting Star saw no combat in World War II.

The initial production order was for 344 P-80A's after USAAF acceptance in February 1945. 83 had been delivered by the end of July 1945 and 45 assigned to the 412th Fighter Group (later redesignated the 1st Fighter Group) at Muroc Army Air Field. After the war, production continued, although wartime plans for 5,000 was quickly reduced to 2,000 at a little under $100,000 a copy. A total of 1,714 single-seater F-80A, F-80B, F-80C, and RF-80s were manufactured by the end of production in 1950, of which 927 were F-80Cs (including 129 operational F-80A's upgraded to F-80C-11-LO standards). However the two-seat TF-80C, first flown on March 22, 1948, became the basis for the T-33 trainer, of which 6,557 were produced.

The P-80B prototype, modified as a racer and designated XP-80R, was piloted by Colonel Albert Boyd to a world air speed record of 623.73 mph (1004.2 km/h) on 19 June 1947. The P-80C began production in 1948; on June 11, now part of the United States Air Force, the P-80C was officially redesignated the F-80C.

The USAF Strategic Air Command had F-80 Shooting Stars in service from 1946 through 1948 with the 1st and 56th Fighter Groups. The first P-80's to serve in Europe joined the 55th Fighter Group (later redesignated the 31st FG) at Giebelstadt, Germany, in 1946, remaining eighteen months. When the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin, a squadron of the 56th FG led by Col. David C. Schilling made the first Atlantic crossing from west to east in July, flying to Germany for 45 days in Operation Fox Able. Replaced by the newly F-80-equipped 36th Fighter Group at Furstenfeldbruck, the 56th FG conducted Fox Able II in May 1949. That same year F-80s first equipped the 51st Fighter Group, based in Japan.

The 4th (Langley Air Force Base, Virginia); 81st (Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico), and 57th (Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska) Fighter Groups all acquired F-80's in 1948, as did interceptor squadrons of the Air Defense Command. The first Air National Guard unit to fly the P-80 was the 196th FS of the California ANG in June 1947.

[edit] Korea

Shooting Stars saw combat service in the Korean War, mainly the more powerful F-80C variant but also RF-80 photo recon planes. November 8, 1950 saw the first piloted jet aircraft vs. piloted jet aircraft battle, in which an F-80 shot down a MiG-15 (disputed as the first jet-versus-jet kill). However, the straight-wing F-80s were inferior in performance to the MiGs and were soon replaced in the air superiority role by the swept-wing F-86 Sabre. When sufficient Sabres were in operation, the Shooting Star was relegated to ground attack, air defense duties in Japan, and advanced flight training duties.

The longest-serving F-80 unit in Korea was the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing, which began missions from Japan in June 1950. Its 35th, 36th, and 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons flew F-80's until May 1953, when the wing converted to the F-86 Sabre. Its primary base from 1951-53 was at Suwon. The 49th Fighter-Bomber Group and its 7th, 8th, and 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons deployed to Taegu, Korea from Japan in September 1950 and continued fighter-bomber missions in the F-80C until the spring of 1952, when it converted to the F-84 Thunderjet. The 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (16th and 25th FIS) operated F-80Cs from Kimpo and Japan from September 1950 to November 1951, when it transitioned to F-86s. The 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group and two squadrons, the 39th and 40th FIS, went to Pohang, Korea, in July 1950, but converted to F-51 Mustangs before the end of the year.

Of the 277 F-80s lost in operations (approximately 30% of the existing inventory), 113 were destroyed by ground fire and 14 shot down by enemy aircraft.^[1] Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions while flying with the 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing on November 22, 1952.

[edit] Costs

The costs are in approximately 1947 United States dollars and have not been adjusted for inflation.^[1]

	P-80A	FP-80A (RF-80A)	P-80B	F-80C/TF-80C
Airframe		75,967		62,050
Engine		21,584		21,192
Electronics		4,195		5,536
Armament		3,715		4,678
Ordnance		2,335
Flyaway cost	110,000	107,796	95,000	93,456

[edit] Variants

See also: Comparison of P-80 variants

The underscored entries are deliveries of the 1714 production models, prior to any conversions or redesignations, with their original block numbers.

• XP-80: Prototype, one built.
• XP-80A: Second prototype variant, two built.
• YP-80A: 12 pre-production aircraft.
• F-14: One built from YP-80A order (44-83024), lost in mid-air collision with chase B-25 December 6, 1944; USAAF photo reconnaissance prototype.
• XF-14: Alternate designation of F-14 prototype.
• P-80A: 344 block 1-LO aircraft; 180 block 5-LO aircraft. Block 5 and all subsequent Shooting Stars were natural metal finish.
• F-80A: USAF designation of P-80A.
• F-14A: Unknown number of conversions from P-80A, all redesignated FP-80A.
• XFP-80A: Modified P-80A 44-85201 with hinged nose for camera equipment.
• FP-80A: 152 block 15-LO; operational photo reconnaissance aircraft.
• RF-80A: USAF designation of FP-80A, 66 operational F-80A's modified to RF-80A standard.
• ERF-80A: Modified P-80A 44-85042 with experimental nose contour.
• XP-80B: Reconfigured P-80A, improved J-33 engine, one built as prototype for P-80B
• P-80B: 209 block 1-LO; 31 block 5-LO; first ejection seat model
• F-80B: USAF designation of P-80B.
• XP-80R: Modification of XP-80B to racer.
• P-80C: 162 block 1-LO; 75 block 5-LO; 561 block 10-LO
• F-80C: USAF designation of P-80; 128 F-80A modified to F-80C-11-LO with J-33-A-35 engine and ejection seat installed.
• RF-80C: 70 modified F-80A and F-80C, and 6 modified RF-80A, to RF-80C and RF-80C-11, respectively; upgraded photo recon plane.
• DF-80A: Designation given to number of F-80As converted into drone directors.
• QF-80A/QF-80C/QF-80F: Project Bad Boy F-80 conversions by Sperry Gyroscope to target drones.
• TP-80C: First designation for TF-80C trainer prototype.
• TF-80C: Prototype for T-33 (48-0356).
• TO-1/TV-1: U.S. Navy designation of F-80, 50 transferred to USN in 1949 as jet trainers.

Lockheed also produced a two-seat trainer variant with a longer fuselage, the T-33A also known as the "T-bird", which remained in production until 1959 and was produced under license in Japan and Canada. The trainer was used by more than 20 different countries. 6,557 T-33s were built and some are still in service.

• T-33A: Two-seat jet trainer aircraft.
• AT-33A: Two-seat attack version of the T-33A.
• DT-33A: This designation was given to a number of T-33As converted into drone directors.
• NT-33A: This designation was given to a number of T-33As converted into special test aircraft.
• QT-33A: This designation was given to number of T-33As converted into target drones.
• RT-33A: Two-seat reconnaissance version of the AT-33A.
• TO-2: Two-seat jet training aircraft for the US Navy. It was the US Navy's version of the T-33A. Later redesignated TV-2.
• TV-2KD: This designation was given to number of TV-2s converted into drone directors.
• T2V-1 Sea Star : Later redesignated T-1A.
• Canadair T-33 Silver Star : Two-seat jet trainer for the RCAF.
• T2V:

The prototype T-33 was again modified into the first F-94 Starfire, an all-weather fighter which was produced in three variants.

• YF-94 : Two T-33As were modified into F-94 prototypes.
• F-94A/B/C : Two-seat all-weather interceptor fighter.

[edit] Foreign operators

Surplus F-80s, upon retirement from the US Air Force, were transferred to Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Yugoslavia, Peru, and Uruguay.

[edit] Specifications (P-80A/F-80)

Data from Quest for Performance^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m)
• Height: 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m)
• Wing area: 237.6 ft² (22.07 m²)
• Empty weight: 8,420 lb (3,819 kg)
• Loaded weight: 12,650 lb (5,738 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 16,856 lb (7,646 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Allison J33-A-35 centrifugal compressor turbojet, 5,400 lbf (24.0 kN)
• Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0134

• Drag area: 3.2 ft² (0.30 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 6.37

Performance

• Maximum speed: 600 mph (965 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 410 mph (660 km/h)
• Range: 1,200 mi (1,930 km)
• Service ceiling: 46,000 ft (14,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 4,580 ft/min (23.3 m/s)
• Wing loading: 53 lb/ft² (260 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.43

• Lift-to-drag ratio: 17.7
• Time to altitude: 5.5 min to 20,000 ft (6,100 m)

Armament

• 6x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns (300 rounds per gun, 1,800 rounds total)
• 2x 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs
• 8x unguided rockets

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Knaack MS (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force aircraft and missile systems. Office of Air Force History.
2. ^ Loftin, LK, Jr.. Quest for performance: The evolution of modern aircraft. NASA SP-468. Retrieved on 2006-04-22.

• Davis, Larry. MiG Alley: Air to Air Combat Over Korea. Carrolton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1978. ISBN 0897470818
• Dorr, Robert F. P-80 Shooting Star Variants. "Wings of Fame, Vol. 11," 1998. ISBN 1861840179
• Pace, Steve. Lockheed Skunk Works. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1992.
• Lockheed P-80/F-80, by Joe Baugher

[edit] External links

• Aircraft of the Smithsonian: Lockheed XP-80 Lulu-Belle
• P-80 Shooting Star walkaround

[edit] Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: P-80 Shooting Star

Related development

• T-33 Shooting Star
• F-94 Starfire

Comparable aircraft

• Messerschmitt Me 262 - The world's first operational jet-fighter aircraft.
• Gloster Meteor - The first Allied operational jet-fighter aircraft.
• Bell P-59A

Designation sequence

XP-78 - XP-79 - P-80 - XP-81 - F-82 - XP-83

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of fighter aircraft
• List of World War II jet aircraft
• List of Lockheed aircraft

See also

• Heinkel He 178 - The world's first aircraft to fly under turbojet power.
• Heinkel He 280 - The first turbojet-powered fighter aircraft built in the world.