Warbird Information Exchange

Are there any groups actively working to buy up the Canadian Air Force T-33's rather than watching them be sent off for scrap? I remember seeing one outfit that had either bought quite a few of them, or was actively brokering the sale of the planes. Not sure if these are going off to the smelters en masse or not.

_________________
Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

I tried to email the surplus company selling them, and they don't respond. Anyway, any links to these?

A friend of mine in the Chicago area, Paul Keppler, bought one of the first T-33s the Canadians sold at auction and he absolutely loves the airplane. As I understand the RCAF did a considerable amount of rebuild/restoration/upgrade to these aircraft shortly before retiring them, making the purchase price a very good deal.

There now seems to be many more prospective buyers than aircraft available. Of course the purchase price is just the first expense in owning a jet aircraft. Expect an insurance bill of around $18K per year and a fuel bill for approx. 350 gal per hour for the T-33.

A bit of info on some of the upgrades:

The CT-133's Avionics Upgrade Project (AUP) was done from 1996-1999 and includes upgrades to , VHF radio systems, intercoms, VOR/ILS, TACAN, ADF, navigation switching units, IFF/SIF, radar altimeter, annunciator panels, flight instruments, electrical systems, oxygen systems, fuel flow and quatity systems, engine instruments, ADI 350S, solid state invertors, gunsight bracket, instrument panels, nose compartment shelving; canopy yoke, batteries. N/ARC-164 - UHF system, defroster system, rate gyroscope, strobe light system.

They also had a corrosion control program for the CT-133's skin started in the 80's lasting to 2001 with about six aircraft a year being inspected and painted.

Seeing some of the prices they sold for, they look like a very good deal and from what some Canadian military pilots have said to me, they're a rock solid, great aircraft to fly.

Chris if you're interested, best to call Lancaster Aviation directly.



I had a 76 Duster with about the same fuel burn

Brian....

Here are a couple of pics of the CT-133's in storage as I saw them yesterday at Mountainview. It is my understanding that a number of these are regularly maintained to be almost flight ready.




A few more pictures here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/367356993oXXaVH


More information can be found at the website of the Directorate of Disposal, Sales, Artefacts & Loans.
http://www.dnd.ca/ddsal/fixedwing_e.asp

Regards,