Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
The Hickory Aviation Museum’s T-33A Tail #52-9529 is on loan from the National Museum of the AF. It came from the VFW in Russellville, KY. Coordinated by Kyle Kirby.
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American 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 U.S. Navy initially as TO-2 then TV-2, and after 1962, T-33B. As of 2015, Canadian-built examples were still in-service with the Bolivian Air Force.
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| Designer | Clarence "Kelly" Johnson |
| First flight | 22 March 1948 |
| Primary users | United States Air Force, United States Navy, Japan Air Self Defense Force, German Air Force |
| Produced | 1948–1959 |
| Number built | 6,557 |
| Propulsion | 1 x Allison J33-A-35 turbojet engine...later enhanced |
| Developed from | Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star |
| Variants | Lockheed T2V SeaStar, Canadair CT-133 Silver Star |
| Developed into | Lockheed F-94 Starfire Boeing Skyfox |
Crew: Two
Length: 37 ft 9 in (11.51 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 10 1⁄2 in (11.85 m)
Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.55 m)
Wing area: 234.8 sq ft (21.81 m2)
Empty weight: 8,365 lb (3,794 kg)
Loaded weight: 12,071 lb (5,475 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 15,061 lb (6,832 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Allison J33-A-35 centrifugal compressor turbojet, 5,400 lbf (24.0 kN)
Maximum speed: 600 mph (521 knots, 965 km/h) at sea level
Cruise speed: 455 mph (396 knots, 732 km/h)
Range: 1,275 mi (1,110 nmi, 2,050 km)
Service ceiling: 48,000 ft (14,630 m)
Rate of climb: 4,870 ft/min (24.7 m/s)
Armament:
- Hardpoints: 2 with a capacity of 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs or rockets (AT-33)
