T-33 Shooting Star

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

T-33 Shooting Star

Japan Air Self Defense Force T-33
Type	Training aircraft
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Designed by	Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
Maiden flight	1948
Primary users	United States Air Force United States Navy
Produced	1948-1959
Number built	6,557

The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (also designated the TO-1) is an American-built jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 by lengthening the fuselage and adding a second seat and control. Initially designated as a variant of the P-80/F80, the TP-80C/TF-80C, the designation was subsequently changed to T-33A. The U.S. Navy had a version, designated the TV-2, that was the first trainer used for both carrier and land based operations.

1 History
2 Trivia
3 Operators
4 Specifications (T-33A)
5 External links
6 Related content

[edit] History

6,557 Shooting Stars were produced, 5,691 by Lockheed. First flight was on March 22, 1948 and production occurred from 1948 to 1959. The aircraft held two crew members, and was also used for recon and in drone towing. The T-33 has served in the air forces of over 30 nations, and continues to serve for some nations. It is one of the most popular and easiest to acquire jet warbirds.

656 T-33s were built on licence by Canadair for service in the Canadian Forces as the CT-33 Silver Star, and 210 in Japan by Kawasaki. Brazil,Turkey and Thailand also used the T-33 extensively.

In the 1980s, an attempt was made to modify and modernize the T-33 as the Boeing Skyfox, but a lack of orders led to the cancellation of the project. About 70% of the T-33s airframe was retained in the Skyfox, but it was powered by two Garrett TFE731-3A turbofan engines.

[edit] Trivia

On September 6, 2006, Imperial War Museum Duxford's Canadair T-33 (G-TBRD), owned by the Golden Apple Trust, was destroyed in a take-off accident. The crew survived. G-TBRD was the first jet warbird to be operated from Duxford, arriving in 1975 and originally registered as G-OAHB.

[edit] Operators

Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Libya, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay, United States (US Air Force, US Navy), Venezuela, Yugoslavia.

[edit] Specifications (T-33A)

General characteristics

Crew: Two
Length: 37 ft 9 in (11.2 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 10.5 in (11.5 m)
Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.3 m)
Empty weight: 8,300 lb (3,775 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 15,100 lb (6,865 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Allison J33-A-35 centrifugal compressor turbojet, 5,400 lbf (23 kN)

Performance

Maximum speed: 600 mph (970 km/h)
Range: 1,275 miles ferry (2,050 km)
Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (14,600 m)

Armament

(AT-33) 2x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M3 machine guns with 350 rounds per gun
Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ordnance on two underwing hardpoints. Weapons carried include bombs and rocket pods.