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| Lockheed's P-80 Shooting Star has its own special niche in USAAF/USAF history. From it evolved a lengthened-fuselage two-seat trainer version, designated originally TF-80C. The first of these flew on 22 March 1948. In addition to the fuselage 'stretch', a second cockpit in tandem was provided with dual controls, the transparent canopy was extended to cover both cockpits and the armament of the F-80 was deleted.
A total of 128 TF-80C were built before the designation was changed to T-33A in May 1949. Adopted as the USAF's standard jet trainer, it remained in production for a further ten years. A total of 649 were also built for service with the US Navy and Marine Corps under the designation TV-2, later T-33B. Total production amounted to 5,691 aircraft (including those for the Navy): 1,058 for supply to friendly nations under the Military Assistance Program and the balance to the USAF. T-33A were also licence-built in Canada (656 as the Silver Star, with Rolls-Royce Nene engine) and Japan (210). Variants included small numbers modified as DT-33A drone directors and AT-33A armed close-support aircraft.
 | A three-view drawing (530 x 827) |
| MODEL | T-33 |
| CREW | 2 |
| ENGINE | 1 x Allison J-33-A-5, 24.0kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 5900 kg | 13007 lb |
| Empty weight | 3810 kg | 8400 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 11.9 m | 39 ft 1 in |
| Length | 11.5 m | 38 ft 9 in |
| Height | 3.6 m | 12 ft 10 in |
| Wing area | 22.0 m2 | 236.81 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 965 km/h | 600 mph |
| Ceiling | 14700 m | 48250 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 2150 km | 1336 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 2 x 12.7mm machine-guns |
| Robin Armour, e-mail, 29.05.2014 17:57 As a student pilot and then instructor in this great aircraft it was a joy to strap on and fly. It always worked as advertised, and was often ridden hard in its role as a trainer. Thanks to all the engineers and maintenance personnel that created and maintained this fine bird. My class was 57U, Bryan AFB, TX and flight instructors school at Craig AFB Alabama. Thanks to all. reply | | Michael Coleman, e-mail, 15.04.2014 01:49 I am looking for any information about a T-33 crash at Tyndall AFB in 1972. I was a medic that removed the bodies of the pilot and co-pilot and need any help that I can get. reply |
| Jetcopters Inc., e-mail, 16.02.2014 22:16 We still have this aircraft. It's what we used as the Skyfox Corporation Skyfox. This is a top secret military prototype that the firm fear is going to be sold to the Russians. In reality, this aircraft was a protoype of an upgraded Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star that was offered for production but never progressed beyond that stage. We were lucky to get our hands on it. The plane was sold to us and we used it for Airwolf. We still have it locked away in the hangar at Van Nuys Airport. If you email us at the email listed above, we'll give you more information and send you pictures. Thank you for your service. And, sorry that we're closed. reply | | Charlie Brickett, e-mail, 30.01.2014 00:11 The last version of the original T-33 /TV-2 which I flew out of NAS Pensacola /Forrest Sherman Field was the T2V which was primarily an instrument trainer but also used for carrier qualification having a tail hook. No mention of it in bio of the plane. Was part of BTG9 training squadron. reply | |
| | Jim Zock, e-mail, 11.01.2014 16:28 The T-33 was later modified with two Garrett engines that were placed externally on the aft fuselage. Some wing modifications were made and it was called the Sky Fox.
The modification was purchased by Boeing and shelved causing it to never be mass produced. This mod would have kept the T-33 alive for many years and been affordable for many poorer nations that already had the T-33 in their fleets. reply | | Bill Walls, e-mail, 13.11.2013 17:38 I was station at DM AFB when we took the T33 out of the Bone Yard and put the plane back in service for the pilots that were POWS and shot down in Southeast Asia reply | | Jeff Cox, e-mail, 20.08.2013 16:29 I WAS STATIONED AT ELMENDORF AND IN 1981. That's all we worked on. Our squadron was the 5021 Tactical Operation Sq. I have to say, they were one of the best aircraft I've ever had the pleasure of maintaining. reply | | Alfred J. D'Amario, e-mail, 19.08.2013 03:11 I graduated from pilot training at Craig AFB in December, 1951 (class 51-H) flying P-51s. Transitioned to jets at Williams AFB in early 1952 flying the T-33 and the F-80. Flew the F-80 at Fighter Gunnery /Bomber training at Nellis AFB and went to Korea in June 1952 flying the F-80 for combat and the T-33 for training. After Korea I was transferred to Pinecastle AFB (later McCoy AFB and now Orlando International Airport) where the T-bird was my primary mission aircraft. At Pinecastle and later McConnell AFBs, I got about 1,000 hours in the T-33. I agree it was a beautiful airplane to fly. It was affectionately called the T-Bird, the Oversized Hairdryer and the Training Aid. In all that time, I never had a T-Bird let me down. reply | | LtCol William G. Sloan, e-mail, 09.08.2013 15:43 I was in the last class to fly T-33s @ Lauglin AFB called 65Xa. The following classes flew T-38s. The X classes were an experiment the AF tried to save money. They were 44 weeks vs 50 something wks and you had to be a pilot already and a college graduate. The X classes were discontinued because of a higher than normal flunk out rate. We lost a lot of good men that would have probably made it in a normal longer class. The T-33 was a Cadillac of an airplane and a real joy to fly. I can tell you you don't want to turn on the fuel boost on climb out! It like an afterburner and almost costed me my wings. I flew F-4 C&D after pilot tng. at Davis Monthan AFB, George AFB, Ubon Thailand, and Hahn AFB Germany, then went into the USAF reserves in New Orleans flying C-119 flying boxcars and transitioned in C-130A&B. Then flew C-130 Gunships out of Duke field until retirement after 28 years. Good times never forgotten! reply |
| Charles Weber, e-mail, 07.07.2013 18:41 I crashed in one at MCAS Cherry Point South Carolina in late 50's. I was a SSgt in the Maine Corps. Does anyone have any info about the crash? I thought the aircraft was great. reply | | CURTIS BERRY, e-mail, 18.06.2013 00:47 ANYONE RECALL TWO T-33s FROM GREENVILLE AFB, MS COLLIDING IN MID-AIR SOMETIMES AFTER 1955? ONE WAS KILLED WHILE THE OTHER 3 PARACHUTED TO SAFETY. THIS TOOK PLACE OVER MY FATHERS FARM & HE RAN UP UNDER A LARGE TREE TO AVOID THE FALLING DEBRIS. I AM A RETIRED AIR FORCE MASTER SERGEANT CURRENTLY EMPLOYED FULL TIME BY CIVIL SERVICE AT KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM. IF ANYONE RECALLS THIS PLEASE CALL ME. MY DUTY PHONE IS 505-846-1898. THANKS FELLOWS. reply | | James Baker, e-mail, 15.06.2013 14:02 I was the crew chief on the first aircraft to come out of the factory as a T_33 (previous were TF-80c) Serial No 49-901 (Lockheed No. 5051)It arrived at Williams AFB Az in July 1949 and had been flown twice by Clarence (Kelly) Johnson at Lockheed. It was the first aircraft to have a one-piece canopy, a J-33A-35 engine (with lower pressure fuel system),dual fire warning system metal brake reservoir(with sight window) TF-80C had all plastic brake reservoir. reply | | William "Bill" Sloan, e-mail, 11.04.2013 18:14 I was in the last class of T-33 at Laughlin AFB Texas in 1964. It was the second 44 week experimental class called 65XA. These classes were terminated due to high drop out rates. The T-33 was a real Cadillac and I loved flying it. You had to be a college graduate and already a pilot to be in the class. reply | | cecil paxton, e-mail, 20.02.2013 03:35 I crewed t-33's from 1956 to 1964 in tyndall, johnson and yokota japan and holliman. Loved the work. Good plane reply | |
| | josue, e-mail, 08.01.2013 07:38 I Need information of T-33A 56-1662? reply | | John W. Van Dyke, e-mail, 08.12.2012 23:00 My initial "tech school" maintainence training was on T-33A's. My first assignment to Spangdahlem AB Germany, (1961 thru 1964) was at "Base Flight" and Crew Chief for T-33A, 52-9857. My Flight Chief was Bruce Athelston. After three years, I transferred Dow AFB, Maine,(1964 thru 1966) 75th FIS, T-33A section. My boss was SSgt Jerry Schultz. After three years, I transferred to Griffiss AFB, NY, replacing Earl Brice, working T-33A's. After a year there, I transferred to Keflavik, Iceland to work on Duce's. The T-33A was an awesome jet to crew, just a little rough on the knees. reply | | Marsh Helena, e-mail, 06.12.2012 20:42 This is a long shot, but am hoping that someone might have some info on a T-33 crash just north of Vance, and on the southwest corner of Enid. This was between June 1959 and August 1960. Dad was in Korea for a year, so we lived close to base for BX, commissary, clinic, etc. The aircraft was on what I think was a maintenance check flight when something went amiss right after leaving the runway. The T-33 impacted in our housing development in a couple of vacant lots. Engine sailed down the street into a home.Pilot was killed, but no one on the ground injured. I was in 6th grade, eating breakfast, I think, went we heard a "thump", like something falling on the roof. Ran outside and saw the smoke. Rode my bike over to the site. First time (there would be other times) in my life I smelled the sick odor of a turbine-engine airplane crash.Picked up a couple of souveniers (piece of canopy and an avionics connecter). Mom really got angry and drove me over to Vance to turn in the items. Thought she was going to let the APs take me to jail. Anyway as best I recollect, the newspaper said that the pilot attempted to miss the houses.I've always wondered about the name of the pilot and the details of what went wrong. Have queried the AFSC for the accident report, but after a year I still have no response. Does anyone have memory or details of that accident? Thanks much. reply | | Lauren Eastwood, e-mail, 01.12.2012 16:24 I worked on the hydraulic system's of the 2 that were assinged to the 49th FIS at Griffiss, AFB, Rome New York, fro early 1970 to mid 1971, then went to Kunson, Korea late June of 1971 reply | | David Hafford, e-mail, 21.11.2012 03:51 Please feel free to correct me on anything I say. I was a witness to what I believe was a T-33 flaming out with an explosion that I faintly heard. I could see the silver body of the plane going stright down. This was in the Decatur area of Atlanta Georgia somewhere around 1956-1958. The plane crashed in a backyard near my school. I was sitting in the classroom of my elementary school and just happened to look out the window (I had a window seat) and saw the plane go down. No one survived in the plane and no one was injured on the ground. It was on the news the next day. I didn't interrupt the class (you didn't do those things back then.) I have been searching the internet a lot without any success. Let me know if you have knowledge of this incident. Thanks. reply | | Frank G. Smith, e-mail, 26.07.2012 21:12 Graduated Class 55H (Feb '55)at Bryan AFB then to Craig for Instructor training. Back to Bryan in T-28A and T-33, then to Shepard AFB , again T-Birds and T-28A Trojans then to Randolpoh in T-Birds, then to Webb AFB in T-Birds and T-37 Tweets. Finally got out of ATC and into F-102 at Perrin then Alaska's 317th FIS. Back to Perrin in Dueces and T-Bird. Went to Thailand as advisor to RTAF in T-28D-5 then to Tyndall AFB in T-33 to finish out my 20 years! How's that for advancement??? Started out in T-28 and T-33 and ended up in T-28 and T-33! Loved the 3300 hours plus in the T-Bird and the 400 plus in the Trojan. reply |
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Michael Coleman
I was 12 at the time My dad was the master sgt in the EOD at the time. I think we were in school at the time, I remember hearing a wet thud. My dad took my brother and I out there after the cleanup it was about 1 /2 way between the end of the runway and our housing section, There were still a few parts laying around. We lived on Monroe street between the end of Adams st. and Lincoln Drv. that house is gone. I remember the planes used to take and fly over our house sometimes so low you could see the details of the planes. They would also come in low and slow. After that crash they changed the takeoff and landing aproaches.
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