Lockheed T-33A regenerated to fly

[aerovet]

Thanks for this quick info: much appreciated!
Good luck on Dec7
Aerovet

[T33driver]

Just to clarify, I'm not flying the Lockheed jet that's the subject of this thread. It'll be ferried next week by WIXer "Stormin", my buddy and air show wingman Carl who regularly flies a Canadian T-33 out of our local airport owned by a mutual buddy of ours.

[B17news]

any more history on this one? Looks like a great project!

[flightlineaero]

After seeing all of them at Oshkosh, I thought it would be great to get as many as we could there.

I will put a bug in Curt's ear, you guys always put on a great show!

-Andy

[T33driver]

Update:

Maintenance crew and pilot aiming for engine runs today on N939NA/56-3689, ferry flight tomorrow. Also just found out the owner has a second Lockheed T-33 in restoration to fly (I believe formerly owned by Mr. Kalitta) at Rockford. I'd seen it up close at my maintenance shop several times all torn down but didn't realize the same gentleman owned it. Don't know the serial number on that one.

[Joe Scheil]

TV-2 Seastar 126591 flew again today, and is back "in" annual at the Palm Springs Air Museum. After some TLC from the T-Bird masters we flew a 30 minute hop today, and enjoyed every second. This was the Planes of Fame paceplane and resident of Chino for many years.

prior to work beginning...and no tip tanks...



Now with her tip tanks and looking like a T-33 again, we bask in a completed flight!







As an inside joke from the small world dept, here is a link to a pic of the plane in San Antonio Texas...October 1979

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/389896.html

TV-2 Seastar 126591 flew again today, and is back "in" annual at the Palm Springs Air Museum. After some TLC from the T-Bird masters we flew a 30 minute hop today, and enjoyed every second. This was the Planes of Fame paceplane and resident of Chino for many years.

prior to work beginning...and no tip tanks...

Joe - VERY nice - thanks for sharing the photos of the T-Bird. Always terrific to see one back in the air. By the way, if this is actually a former Navy or Marine TV-2/T-33B model, was there ever any thought to putting it back in an authentic paint scheme for the upcoming Centennial of Naval Aviation in 2011? One of the white and orange day-glo trainer schemes would look outstanding.

And just as a note, the "Seastar" name applied to the highly modified version equipped for carrier landings and takeoffs - the T2V-1/T-1A. The TV-2/T-33B used the Shooting Star name.

Thanks again for the photos and info. on a great looking jet. And it does look much better with the tip tanks.

[T33driver]

Great news Joe! Great lookin' airplane.

More work to be done on the T-Bird that's the subject of this thread. WIXer "Stormin" and the maintenance crew ran the airplane successfully last week but still have more airworthiness items to address before she can be ferried. A few more squawks popped up, nothing major, just gonna take more wrench time. Shooting for this week to fly. Plan is for this jet to be at Oshkosh and several air shows next year.

More work to be done on the T-Bird that's the subject of this thread. WIXer "Stormin" and the maintenance crew ran the airplane successfully last week but still have more airworthiness items to address before she can be ferried. A few more squawks popped up, nothing major, just gonna take more wrench time. Shooting for this week to fly. Plan is for this jet to be at Oshkosh and several air shows next year.

Glad things are progressing with the T-33 - Hope it can get in the air this week - keep us posted.

Looking forward to seeing it at Oshkosh (hope they get a big group of T-Birds again like this year) and maybe at other air shows.

[Joe Scheil]

Thanks for the words ...

As for the Seastar, I just thought that was what they were, and thats interesting they weren't. The paint scheme kind of evolved, and it currently represents a combat T-33 used in Korea as a transition aircraft for new pilots reaching combat. The P-80 had a high loss rate due to the reliance on the platform for air to ground delivery...they lost a squadron a month!

Anyone having a pic of a 126xxx aircraft should post it. Looking for an actual shot of 126591!

[Joe Scheil]

Last year at Wendover...
\

[warbird1]

The paint scheme kind of evolved, and it currently represents a combat T-33 used in Korea as a transition aircraft for new pilots reaching combat. The P-80 had a high loss rate due to the reliance on the platform for air to ground delivery...they lost a squadron a month!

I didn't know that any T-33's were used in Korea during the war. Any details - how many, which units, dates, places, etc.? Most fascinating.

[Joe Scheil]

As for total numbers and time in service (start dates) I don't really know. They were there in small numbers in a "transition" for pilots getting into combat in the P-80 w 18FBG. There are 8 T-33A USAF combat loss reports. As far as I know each squadron eventually had one or two in service. The pictures are rare, but I believe the new Squadron Signal T-33 one has a couple. Also models are showing the noseart and combat markings of the T-33 best these days. For accuracy's sake none had Fletcher tanks....

http://www.korean-war.com/AirWar/Aircra ... sList.html

This was a runner up scheme...

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/korean/sharpt33.htm