Warbird Information Exchange

Has anyone ever attempted (or seriously considered) the building of an airworthy P-80 "replica" from T-33 components?

A P-80/F-80 "replica" from a T-33 sounds interesting and as much as I would like to see a flying F-80, as a purist I don't think I would want to see this. There is a more than a 3 foot difference between the T-33 (37'9") and the F-80C (34'5"), and I don't think that would make a very accurate F-80. I would rather see the effort made to take an existing P-80/F-80 air frame and work it back to flying status (along the lines of the POF museum effort with the P-59).

(Now if it would be possible to come up with a replica from T-33 components to produce a "replica" F-80 of about 34 to 35 feet in length, that would be another story......)

I'm not sure a well done short T-Bird would look odd.
From all accounts, the T-33 was a simple stretch.
I don't think you could mess it up or make it inaccurate.

If someone wants to do it, they have my blessing. It would be nice to have an "extinct" type airworthy again.

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I could have swore that I read about a T-33 to P-80 conversion done for the Air Force a long time ago by someone in Southern California - perhaps the Regina brothers. I know it was a static and was destined to be placed on an active Air Force base somewhere. I don't remember anything else. Anyone recall the details?

I believe that was done by Jim Ricketts / Aero Nostalgia in the late 80's, early 90's. 44-84999.

http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factshee ... sp?id=5691

Nice looking ship.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

They must have been some sweet tires...

From the one photo, something looks odd. I think the cockpit was the only thing changed to resemble an F-80. The fuselage looks as long as a normal T-33. Not sure.
VL

I may have been seeing things, but a couple of years ago, on my way to pick up Pooner at Ontario Int. Airport, I drove by a fiberglass shop (Dave Talichett's?) that had replicas of Bf109's and what looked to be Lockheed P-80's, a number of both types...

A well done flying P-80 conversion would be awesome. Especially painted up circa 1945 in the MTO.

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I agree that the photo makes it appear that this "F-80" is longer than it should be, suggesting the fuselage was not altered from the T-33. Not sure though. The description with the photo seems to suggest that it was cut down.

I don't see the point in altering a T-33 to an F-80 for static display. I don't think it makes sense to convert a T-33 unless the goal is to have it fly.

I agree that seeing a well-done (including shortened fuselage) flying conversion of a T-33 to a P-80/F-80 would be outstanding. My own preference would be as a Korean War example of an F-80C with red or yellow markings and with underwing "Misawa" tip tanks.

Perhaps the effort would be better spent on getting the F-80 down off the pole at Merced airport and putting it back in the air.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FLYING VERSION DONE IN THE MARKINGS OF THE 36TH fIGHTER SQUADRON. The Red striped tail and the tip tanks make it a standout and my father was amember of the Squadron in Korea.

I was thinking too, that I'd read somewhere, maybe Air Clasics, that POF was converting a T-33 to an F-80 & assumed it was to flying condition, but maybe it was the replica for Hill AFB & I'm confused, but I swear I remember POF being involved in a flying conversion.