On the east side of Range Road 172, the eastern edge of the village, just south of Fourth Avenue, is a small park with some really interesting artefacts. There's an 18-36 Hart-Parr Tractor, a McCormick Deering thresher, an old wood boxed grain wagon and, of course, this Canadair T-33 Silverstar, mounted on a pedestal.
CT-133 Silver Star
Known as the "T-Bird", the Lockheed T-33 started life in 1944 as America's first operational jet fighter, the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star. In 1948 a second cockpit was added to create the world's first jet trainer: the T-33.
Canada entered the jet age at this time (the Avro CF-100 Canuck prototype was being built) and was therefore looking for its own jet trainer. Canadair of Cartierville, Quebec won the contract to build the RCAF version of the T-33, and the first "CT-133 Silver Star" rolled out in 1953. Over 650 were built and distributed to bases all over Canada.
Two squadrons (400 & 411) operated CT-133s as trainers here at Downsview when it was a Canadian Forces Base.
Surprisingly, the T-33 was a better performer than the original F-80 Shootng Star. In addition, the CT-133 Silver Star with its Canadian-built Rolls-Royce Nene engine was 50 mph faster than the American version.
Though replaced as Canada's advanced jet trainer by the Canadair CL-41 Tutor in 1963, the CT-133 continued service in radio, electronic warfare, reconnaissance and navigation training roles until officially retired in 1995. In fact, two Silver Stars remained in service with the Engineering Test Establishment at Cold Lake, Alberta, until July 2005, making the CT-133 the longest serving aircraft in the Canadian Forces. It has over 50 years of service and 2.4 million flight hours.
Specifications:
- Wing Span: 12.93 m
- Length: 11.48 m
- Height: 3.55 m
- Weight, Empty: 3,670 kg
- Weight, Gross: 6,557 kg
- Maximum Speed: 965 km/h
- Service Ceiling: 14,478 m
- Range: 2,164 km
- Power Plant: Rolls-Royce Nene X
From the Canadian Air & Space Museum