Stonehenge Air Museum - Fontine, MT - Photo Gallery

[Mike]

The Seafire hasn’t flown for about 15 years now I think it would need a little more than just an annual to put it back in the air after sitting for so long.

[marine air]

It seems to be a very nice choice of aircraft for the collection. I'd like to point out that he owns the T-33 that has an engine conversion. Ezell Aviation converted it to a Garrett TFE 731-3 turbofan. It would be nice to get a pilot report on how it flies with the turbofan as far as takeoff performance and it's major fuel savings. The fuel consumption is a huge negative on owning a T-33.

[sandiego89]

It seems to be a very nice choice of aircraft for the collection. I'd like to point out that he owns the T-33 that has an engine conversion. Ezell Aviation converted it to a Garrett TFE 731-3 turbofan. It would be nice to get a pilot report on how it flies with the turbofan as far as takeoff performance and it's major fuel savings. The fuel consumption is a huge negative on owning a T-33.

I would like to hear about the turbofan conversion also. I have read elsewhere that a T-33 conversion might be the easiest way to get a P/F-80 representative into the air. The main fuselage plug that added the second seat is a fairly straightforward constant chord 24 inch plug I understand. The rear fuselage plug could likely be ignored. So "all" you need is a plug delete, new canopy, P-80 wingtips for a P-80 representative, but the turbofan would be icing on the cake. No where is my lottery ticket......

[bdk]

The fuel consumption is a huge negative on owning a T-33.

The fuel cost is negligible compared to buying a P-51 though. You could burn several million dollars worth of fuel in the T-33 before you even got close to the cost of a flyable Mustang.

[Kyleb]

The fuel consumption is a huge negative on owning a T-33.

The fuel cost is negligible compared to buying a P-51 though. You could burn several million dollars worth of fuel in the T-33 before you even got close to the cost of a flyable Mustang.

Only if you have several million dollars to spend on fuel.

[Zac Yates]

Thank you for sharing the photos, I'm afraid I only have eyes for the Seafire - although it's neat to see an Inflatoplane!

[bdk]

The fuel consumption is a huge negative on owning a T-33.

The fuel cost is negligible compared to buying a P-51 though. You could burn several million dollars worth of fuel in the T-33 before you even got close to the cost of a flyable Mustang.

Only if you have several million dollars to spend on fuel.

About 360 gallons per hour I believe. Jet A is $3.89/gal at Chino, so ~ $1,400/hour, so you could probably fly about 1,500 hours in your T-33. Likely just under 1,000 hours in your F-86 (~560 GPH?).

[JohnB]

It seems to be a very nice choice of aircraft for the collection. I'd like to point out that he owns the T-33 that has an engine conversion. Ezell Aviation converted it to a Garrett TFE 731-3 turbofan. It would be nice to get a pilot report on how it flies with the turbofan as far as takeoff performance and it's major fuel savings. The fuel consumption is a huge negative on owning a T-33.

I didn't know a 731 would fit in a T-Bird.
Off the top of my head, I would have thought it would be too wide.
I was around when Ezell was working on a Temco Pinto...adding tip tanks, I think it was already a Super Pinto (with a later GE Lear engine, IIRC).

Wonder what the overhaul costs for a 731 are compared to the ancient T-33 unit?

Last edited by JohnB on Fri Jan 07, 2022 11:17 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Ryan Harris]

The display sign from the photos say it actually has a GE CF-700 installed. Thrust is basically identical, but the CF-700 weighs 735 lbs compared to the J-33's nearly 2000.

[JohnB]

I'll mention that to John Sessions at Historic Flight Foundation. He has a T-33 (or Canadian Silver Star) under long term restoration. It would be neat to have it re-engined.