Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star

Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star

About the Aircraft

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
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star Ser 52-9529

General Characteristics

Characteristics

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)

Performance

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)