  |
||||||
                        |
 |
Serial T33-487, RCAF 21487 Manufactured: 1955 5,100 lb. s.t. Rolls-Royce Nene 10 Turbojet Maximum speed: Mach .787 Empty weight: 8,084 lbs. Loaded weight: 11,965 lbs. Span: 38' 10" Length: 37' 9" Height: 11' 8" Wing area: 237 sq. ft. RCAF 21487 was used at Gimli, Manitoba for RCAF and NATO pilot training until taken off strength in 1967. Donated to the Canadian Museum of Flight by Northwest Industries in 1977, with only 1067 hours total time, CMF's T33 lacks an engine, instruments and cockpit furnishings. It is being restored bit by bit, as missing items are obtained. General Information A variant of Lockheed's F80 "Shooting Star" the T33A is the most widely used tandem two-seat advanced trainer in the world. It has been supplied to the air arms of some twenty-five countries, and built under licence in Japan by Kawasaki, (210 machines) and in Canada by Canadair as the CL-30 Silver Star (T-33AN), (656 examples). The Silver Star Mks. 2 and 3 differed from the U.S. manufactured T-33A in being powered by a 5,100 lb.s.t. Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet. The parent company had manufactured a total of 5,691 T-33A and T-33B trainers when the last was delivered in August 1959, the latter being a version for the U.S. Navy. The RT-33A is a single-seat photo reconnaissance model, and the DT-33A and WT-33A are respectively drone director and weather reconnaissance models. The prototype flew for the first time on March 22, 1948. T-33's were used as trainers with the RCAF in the 50's and 60's and were in service worldwide. A very successful design, which the Canadian Armed Forces intends to use well into the next century. There are still over 60 T-birds on CAF inventory , some with over 10,000 airframe hours. Point of Interest: Kelowna Flightcraft are currently upgrading the CAF's T-33 fleet with "glass cockpits" (i.e., computerized). Photo: Museum archive | |
|||
