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: |
|
| Type: |
Training Aircraft
|
First Flight:
|
March 22, 1948
|
Wing Span:
|
38.10 feet
|
| Length: |
37.9 feet
|
| Height: |
11.8 feet
|
Weight, Empty:
|
8,084 pounds
|
Weight, Loaded:
|
14,442 pounds
|
| Power: |
1 x Allison J33-A-34 turbojet
|
Normal Crew:
|
2 |
Typical Armament:
|
2 x 12.7 mm Browning M3 machingun
Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ordance
|
| Performance: |
|
Cruise Speed:
|
455 miles per hour
|
Top Speed:
|
590 miles per hour
|
Rate of Climb:
|
5,000 feet per minute
|
Range:
|
1,345 miles
|
Service Ceiling:
|
47,500 feet
|