T-33 Shooting Star
Plan your VisitSummary
About the T-33 Shooting Star
Lockheed Aircraft developed their first jet fighter, the P-80, around the British Halford H.1B turbojet at the end of WWII. It initially flew in January 1944 but was redesigned to use the General Electric I-40 engine with 4000 lbs of thrust. The type began to enter service in early 1945 but never really entered combat. After the war, 1,720 total F-80 (changed from P-80 after the war) aircraft were produced and many saw combat in the Korean war.
Far more successful was the T-33A which was a lengthened two place version of the F-80. Lockheed produced 5,691 T-33s which have served more than 30 air forces. In addition, Kawasaki of Japan built 210 and Canadair built 656 under license. A considerable number of the aircraft are still in service today, 57 years after the first type entered service.
History
The story of an iconic aircraft
Dimensions
Wingspan
37 ft. 6 in
Length
37 ft. 8 in
Height
11 ft. 7 in
Maximum weight
15,000 lbs
Performance
Maximum speed
525 mph
Cruising speed
455 mph
Range
1,000 miles
Service Ceiling
45,000 ft
Powerplant
One Allison J-33 of 5,400 lbs. thrust
Armament
Two .50-cal. machine guns in nose
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T-33 Shooting Star
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Experience
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Stand mere feet from a living piece of aviation history. Feel the power and precision of this remarkable aircraft that once ruled the skies.
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T-33 Shooting Star Gallery
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