It was produced byLockheedand
made its first flight in 1948 piloted. The T-33 was
developed from theLockheed
as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designatedT-33A.
It was used by the U.S. Navy initially asTO-2thenTV-2,
and after 1962,T-33B.
Despite its vintage the T-33 remains in service
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star (in
transit to museum)
The T-33 (aka "T-Bird" or "Converter," since it
converted fuel into noise) was developed from theLockheed
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, theTP-80C/TF-80C.
Design work for the Lockheed P-80 began in 1943 with the
first flight on 8 January 1944. Following on theBell
P-59, the P-80 became the first jet fighter to enter
full squadron service in theUnited
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
Originally designated the TF-80C, the T-33 made its
first flight on 22 March 1948 with US production taking
place from 1948 to 1959. TheUS
T-33 as a land-based trainer starting in 1949. It was
but was redesignated theT-33Bin
1962. The Navy operated some ex-USAF P-80Cs as theTO-1,
changed to theTV-1about
a year later. Acarrier-capableversion
of the P-80/T-33 family was subsequently developed by
Lockheed, eventually leading to the late 1950s to 1970sT2V-1/T-1A
SeaStar. A total of 6,557 Shooting Stars were produced,
5,691 by Lockheed.
Our aircraft is not a flyer and is presently in the
process of being delivered to the museum by truck.
Click below to see 1 minute 10 second video of a
Lockheed T-33 in flight.
Additional military and civilian
aircraft may be seen at the Texas Air & Space Museum.
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