Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star - McMinnville, Oregon
Posted by: BruceS
N 45° 12.298 W 123° 08.656
10T E 488670 N 5005730
A Lockeed T-33A Shooting Star training jet is located on the grounds of the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
Waymark Code: WM62AF
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 03/21/2009
Views: 11
From information plaque:
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star - 1948
General History:
The U.S. Air Force leaped into the Jet Age in 1944 with the P-80 Shooting Star, its first operational fighter jet. Shortly thereafter, the need arose for a trainer to acquaint pilots with the performance of the new jets. Since Lockheed had produced the P-80, the Air Force turned to them to produce the trainer.
Soon dubbed the "T-Bird", the T-33A secured itself as a graceful and reliable flyer. It made the transition to jets easy for pilots used to flying propeller driven aircraft. While predominantly a training aircraft, it was also used for drone control, tactical maneuver training and tactical reconnaissance well into the 1980s.
Initially designed as a variant of the P-80, Lockheed's T-33A has proven to be a long lasting trainer. It has been operated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marines plus more than 40 countries around the world and a number are still flying today!
This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the Untied States Air Force.
Specifications: |
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Type: |
Training Aircraft
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First Flight:
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March 22, 1948
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Wing Span:
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38.10 feet
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Length: |
37.9 feet
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Height: |
11.8 feet
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Weight, Empty:
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8,084 pounds
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Weight, Loaded:
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14,442 pounds
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Power: |
1 x Allison J33-A-34 turbojet
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Normal Crew:
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2 |
Typical Armament:
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2 x 12.7 mm Browning M3 machingun
Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ordance
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Performance: |
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Cruise Speed:
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455 miles per hour
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Top Speed:
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590 miles per hour
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Rate of Climb:
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5,000 feet per minute
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Range:
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1,345 miles
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Service Ceiling:
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47,500 feet
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