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5050 Santa Fe Drive Atwater, California 95301
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
MUSEUM HOURS
May 1- October 31
9:00am - 5:00pm
November 1 - April 30
10:00am - 4:00pm
The museum is open
daily year round,
except for the
following days:
New Year's Day,
Easter,
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Day.
The Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star is the trainer version of the F-80 aircraft. It is a two man version and is three feet longer than the F-80. It was America's first jet trainer and first entered service in 1948.
It was widely used by all U.S. military services and many Allied nations. Over 5,800 T-33's were made in the U.S. alone and many more were produced under license in Canada (Canadair CL-30) and Japan. It is estimated that over 90 per cent of all the Free World's pilots trained in the 1950's and 1960's, trained in this type of aircraft.
A design dating from the Second World War, the Silver Star, or "T-Bird" as it is more commonly known in Canada, had been in service since 1951 as a training and electronic warfare aircraft. The CT-133 is a two-seat, single engine trainer. The aircrafts Rolls-Royce Nene 10 engine emits a low pitched rumbling noise often termed the "T-Bird Rumble."
The T-33 was also used in other roles, such as reconnaissance and drone controller. An attack version was also widely used by Third World nations.
The T-33 has served with over 30 nations, and continues to operate as a trainer in smaller air forces. Canadair built 656 T-33s on licence for service in the RCAF - Canadian Forces as the CT-133 Silver Star while Kawasaki manufactured 210 in Japan. Other operators included Brazil, Turkey and Thailand which used the T-33 extensively.
In the late 1990s, 18 T-33 Mk-III and T-33 SF-SC from the Bolivian Air Force went to Canada to be modernized at Kelowna Flightcraft. New avionics were installed, and detailed inspection and renewal of the fuselage and wings were performed. Most of the aircraft returned in early 2001 and remain operational.
The aircraft on display at Castle Air Museum, served with Castle Air Force Base's 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron until the unit's deactivation in 1987.
Specifications
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Co.
Role/Function: Trainer
Serial Number: 58-0629
Model Number/Mk. #: n/a
Crew: 2 (student & pilot in tandem seating).
Power Plant: 1 - Allison J33-A-4-35 turbojet engine with 6,100 lbs. of thrust.
Maximum Speed: 600 mph.
Cruising Speed: 410 mph.
Service Ceiling: 48,000 ft.
Range: 1,275 mi.
Weights: Empty: 8,300 lbs. Maximum: 15,100 lbs.
Wing Span: 38 ft. 10 in.
Length: 37 ft. 9 in.
Height: 11 ft. 4 in.
Wing Area: 237.6 ft² (22.07 m²)
Armament: 2 - .50 caliber machine guns (seldom fitted). 2 hardpoints with a capacity of 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs or rocket pods
Cost: n/a
# Built: 5,800 built by Lockheed. 656 - CL-30's built by Canadair (designated CT-133 by Canadian Forces). 210 built by Kawasaki.
# in Current Service: Hundreds (this is the most favoured aircraft model for private owners).