Lockheed T-33

what is it?

The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is a subsonic jet trainer designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed. Originally designated TP-80C/TF-80C at an early stage of its development, the T-33 was derived from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 jet fighter by lengthening the fuselage and adding a second seat. The T-33A conducted its maiden flight on 22 March 1948 and was introduced as an advanced trainer with the United States Air Force (USAF) shortly thereafter.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 jet engine · 11.9 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 965 km/htop speed
• size 6,832 kgmax take-off weight
• built 6,557made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 78 years ago, in 1948.
• 🏎️Top speed is 7.4× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 11.9 m: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🏔️Can fly 1.7× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

jet: Gas turbine pushing air out the back (turbofan or turbojet): fast and high-flying.

spec sheet

first flight

1948-03-22

retired

2017

status

retired

number built

6,557

role

training aircraft

makers

Mexico, Lockheed Corporation

engines

1× Allison J33-A-35

crew

2

length

11.5 m

wingspan

11.9 m

height

3.6 m

max take-off weight

6,832 kg

top speed

965 km/h

cruise speed

732 km/h

range

—

ceiling

14,630 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

family