Lockheed T-33

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_T-33

The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is a subsonic American jet trainer
aircraft. 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 starting as
TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the U.S.
Navy initially as TO-2 then TV-2, and after 1962, T-33B. The last operator of
the T-33, the Bolivian Air Force, retired the type in July 2017, after 44 years
of service.

The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 by lengthening the fuselage
by slightly over three feet and adding a second seat, instrumentation, and
flight controls. It was initially designated as a variant of the P-80/F-80, the
TP-80C/TF-80C.

Design work on the Lockheed P-80 began in 1943 with the first flight on 8
January 1944. Following on the Bell P-59, the P-80 became the first jet fighter
to enter full squadron service in the United States Army Air Forces. As more
advanced jets entered service, the F-80 took on another role—training jet
pilots. The two-place T-33 jet was designed for training pilots already
qualified to fly propeller-driven aircraft.

Role
Training aircraft

Manufacturer
Lockheed

Designer
Clarence "Kelly" Johnson

First flight
22 March 1948

Retired
31 July 2017 (Bolivian Air Force)

Primary users
United States Air Force
United States Navy
Japan Air Self Defense Force
German Air Force

Produced
1948–1959

Number built
6,557

Developed from
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star

Variants
Lockheed T2V SeaStar
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star

Developed into
Lockheed F-94 Starfire
Boeing Skyfox

The U.S. Air Force began phasing the T-33 out of front line pilot training
duties in the Air Training Command in the early 1960s as the Cessna T-37 Tweet
and Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft began replacing it for the Undergraduate Pilot
Training (UPT) program. The T-33 was used to train cadets from the Air Force
Academy at Peterson Field (now Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs). The
T-37 replaced the T-33 for Academy training in 1975. The final T-33 used in
advanced training was replaced 8 February 1967 at Craig AFB, Alabama.

The T-33 has served with over 30 nations, and continues to operate as a trainer
in smaller air forces. Canadair built 656 T-33s on licence for service in the
RCAF—Canadian Forces as the CT-133 Silver Star while Kawasaki manufactured 210
in Japan. Other operators included Brazil, Turkey, and Thailand which 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 project's cancellation. About 70% of the
T-33's airframe was retained in the Skyfox, but it was powered by two Garrett
AiResearch TFE731-3A turbofan engines.

In the late 1990s, 18 T-33 Mk-III and T-33 SF-SC from the Bolivian Air Force
went to Canada to be modernized at Kelowna Flightcraft. New avionics were
installed, and detailed inspection and renewal of the fuselage and wings were
performed. Most of the aircraft returned in early 2001 and remained operational
until the type was officially retired on 31 July 2017.

Specifications (T-33A)

General characteristics
Crew: Two
Length: 37 ft 9 in (11.51 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft ?10 1/2 in (11.85 m)
Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.55 m)
Wing area: 234.8 sq ft (21.81 m2)
Empty weight: 8,365 lb (3,794 kg)
Loaded weight: 12,071 lb (5,475 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 15,061 lb (6,832 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Allison J33-A-35 centrifugal compressor turbojet, 5,400 lbf
(water injection), 4,600 lbf continuous (24.0 kN)

Performance
Maximum speed: 600 mph (521 knots, 965 km/h) at sea level
Cruise speed: 455 mph (396 knots, 732 km/h)
Range: 1,275 mi (1,110 nmi, 2,050 km)
Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (14,630 m)
Rate of climb: 4,870 ft/min (24.7 m/s)

Armament

Hardpoints: 2 with a capacity of 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs or rockets (AT-33)




*