Alaska Air National Guard photo by Robert M. Braley Jr., MSgt, AKANG 176th Wing Histrical Property Custodian
LOCKHEED T-33A "SHOOTING STAR" Flown by the Alaska Air National Guard October 1953 - July 1957 CREW: 2 COST: $123,000
SPECIFICATIONS
SPAN: 37 FT. 6 IN.- LENGTH: 37 FT. 8 IN.
HEIGTH: 11 FT. 7 IN. WEIGHT: 15,000 LBS. MAX
ARAMENT: 6 50 CAL MACHINE GUNS IN NOSE
ENGINE: GENERAL ELECTRIC - 5200 LBS THRUST
PERFORMANCE
MAXIMUM SPEED: 525 MPH CRUISING SPEED: 455 MPH RANGE: 1,000 MILES SERVICE CEILING: 45,000 FT.
IN MEMORY OF:
CAPT LIONEL N. TIETSE
1LT ROGER A. PENDLETON
ACFT CRASHED: POINT MCKENZIE, AK NOV 6, 1954
AND
CAPT BLINN F. WEBSTER
ACFT #9276 CRASHED: CHICKALOON FLATS, AK, APR 20, 1956
National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF) Dayton, Ohio - Display Aircraft
The two-seat T-33 jet was designed for training pilots already qualified to fly propeller-driven aircraft. It was developed from the single seat F-80 fighter by lengthening the fuselage slightly more than three feet to accommodate a second cockpit seat.
Originally designed the TF-80C, the T-33 made its first flight in March 1948. Production continued until August 1959 with 5,691 T-33s built. In addition to its use as a trainer, the T-33 has been used for such tasks as drone director and target towing, and in some countries even as a combat aircraft. The RT-33A version, reconnaissance aircraft produced primarily for use by foreign countries, had a camera installed in the nose and additional equipment in the rear cockpit.
The T-33 is one of the worlds best known aircraft, having flown with the air forces of more than 20 different countries for almost 40 years. Many are still in use throughout the world. The T-33A on display at the NMUSAF was flown to the museum in 1962.
Source: NMUSAF Aircraft Brochure - Newly Revised Edition, Published and Distrbuted by the Air Force Museum Foundation, Inc.
