Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star - Luke AFB, Phoenix, AZ
Posted by: kb7ywl
N 33° 32.389 W 112° 21.718
12S E 373547 N 3711964
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star s/n 58-0495
Waymark Code: WMDXBM
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 03/06/2012
Views: 5
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built 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 US Navy initially as TO-2 then TV-2, and after 1962, T-33B. Despite its vintage, the venerable T-33 still remains in service worldwide.
The T-33 (aka "T-Bird") 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 for 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 US 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.
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. The US Navy used the T-33 as a land-based trainer starting in 1949. It was designated the TV-2, but was redesignated the T-33B in 1962. The Navy operated some ex-USAF P-80C's as the TO-1, changed to the TV-1 about a year later. A carrier-capable version of the P-80/T-33 family was subsequently developed by Lockheed, eventually leading to the late 1950's to 1970's T2V-1/T-1A SeaStar. A total of 6,557 Shooting Stars were produced, 5,691 by Lockheed.
Source: Wikipedia
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star
Tail Number: (S/N): s/n 58-0495
Construction:: original aircraft
Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located at the Air Park, Luke AFB, Phoenix, AZ
inside / outside: outside
Other Information:: This aircraft is painted as 58-0745, a T-33 assigned to Luke AFB during 1951-1969.
Access restrictions: Located at the Air Park, Luke AFB, Phoenix, AZ
|
Visit Instructions: Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored) Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica) Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)
Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.
|