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Lockheed T-33A
Shooting Star
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Trainer (Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam)
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HEIGHT-11' 4" LENGTH-37' 9" WINGSPAN-38' 11"
MAX WEIGHT-11,965 LBS MAX SPEED-543 MPH
CREW SIZE-2
ENGINES-1 ALLISON J-33-A-35 @ 4,600 LBS THRUST
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The prototype P-80 flew on the 8th of January, 1944, and
became the first production jet aircraft accepted for
operational service by the USAAF. The P-80 (later F-80)
saw combat in the Korean War. In 1948 the T-33 Shooting
Star was introduced. The T-33 evolved from the F-80 "C"
model fighter with the fuselage lengthened 38 inches to
accommodate a second pilot sitting in tandem. The canopy
was extended and the armament was removed. Shooting Stars
have taught many Air Force pilots basic fighter manueuvering
skills, air combat tactics and low level flight skills.
Production continued until 1959 and they were used in the
U.S.A.F. until 1988. This T-33 was delivered to the U.S.
Air Force in October 1958. It served at Peterson AFB until
1980 and was then transferred to the 84th Fighter Interceptor
Training Squadron (FITS), Castle AFB, CA. It last flew
performing Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) training in the
role as a target for the North American Air Defense Command
(NORAD). In 1987 it retired after almost 30 years of service,
and joined the museum at March Field.
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58-0513 served the U.S. Air Force from 1958-1987
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This aircraft is on loan from the U.S. Air Force Museum
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