Canadair T-33

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CT-133 Silver Star

CT-33 Silver Star Mk.3
Type Military trainer aircraft
Manufacturer Canadair
Designed by Lockheed Corporation
Retired 2006
Primary user Royal Canadian Air Force/ Canadian Forces
Number built 656
Developed from T-33 Shooting Star
Variants T2V SeaStar

The Canadair T-33 was the Canadian license-built version of the T-33 Shooting Star jet trainer aircraft.


Contents

[edit] Design and development

The Canadair T-33 is the result of a 1951 contract to build T-33 Shooting Star Trainers for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The powerplant would be a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33. A project designation of CL-30 was given by Canadair and the name was changed to Silver Star. The appearance of the T-33 is very distinctive due to the large fuel tanks usually carried on each wingtip.

A total of 656 T-33 aircraft were built by Canadair.[1]


[edit] Operational history

The T-33 entered service in the RCAF as its primary training aircraft for fighter/interceptors. Its name is an interesting take of the USAF designation "Shooting Star." The RCAF named it the "Silver Star," in honour of Canada's (and the British Empire's) first flight of a heavier-than-air craft, the AEA Silver Dart.The designation of the Silver Star in the Canadian Forces was CT-133.

The T-33 was reliable and had forgiving flight properties. Its service life in the RCAF (and later the Canadian Forces) was extremely long. One of the more unusual roles it played was as an aerobatic demonstration aircraft, the RCAF's Red Knight. Although the aircraft stopped being used as a trainer in 1976, there were still over 50 aircraft in Canadian Forces inventory in 1995. The youngest of these airframes was then 37 years old and had exceeded its expected life by a factor of 2½. During this period, the Canadair T-33 was employed in communication, target towing and enemy simulation.

A Canadair T-33 Silver Star at RAF Elvington
A Canadair T-33 Silver Star at RAF Elvington
A line of Canadair CT-133 Silver Stars of 417 Combat Support Squadron at CFB Cold Lake
A line of Canadair CT-133 Silver Stars of 417 Combat Support Squadron at CFB Cold Lake
Canadair T-33 Silver Star without wingtip tanks, in RCAF markings at the Canadian Museum of Flight, July 1988.
Canadair T-33 Silver Star without wingtip tanks, in RCAF markings at the Canadian Museum of Flight, July 1988.

The final Canadair Silver Star Mk. 3 was retired from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada where it was used as an ejection seat testbed after 46 years of service. See also: "Canada's Fab Four", Air Forces Monthly. CT-133 number 133648 was delivered to Mountain View CFD on 26 April 2005. Having been built in March 1959 as [T-33] 21648, and had 11,394.6 flight hours at the time of retirement on an airframe rated for 13,500 flight hours. It has been sold on the civil market, along with fifteen other CT-133s. These aircraft will join the fifty others on the U. S. Civil Register and continue to fly as a part of the living legacy of the early jet age. See also: "Silver Star Stand Down", Air Classics.

[edit] Variants

  • T-33A Silver Star Mk 1 : Two-seat jet training aircraft for the RCAF. Built by Lockheed in the USA, 30 on loan to the RCAF.
  • T-33ANX Silver Star Mk 2 : The first Canadian prototype. One built.
  • 'Silver Star Mk 3 : Two-seat jet training aircraft for the RCAF.
    • Silver Star Mk 3PT : Unarmed version.
    • Silver Star Mk 3AT : Armed version.
    • Silver Star Mk 3PR : Photo-reconnaissance version.
  • CE-133 : Upgraded electronic warfare training aircraft.
  • CX-133 : Ejection seat testbed.
  • ET-133 : Aerial threat simulator aircraft.
  • TE-133 : Anti-ship threat simulator aircraft.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Bolivia Bolivia
Flag of Canada Canada
Flag of France France
Flag of Greece Greece
Flag of Portugal Portugal
Flag of Turkey Turkey

[edit] Specifications (T-33)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1-2
  • Length: 37 ft 8 in (11.48 m)
  • Wingspan: 42 ft 5 in (12.93 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.55 m)
  • Wing area: ()
  • Empty weight: 8,440 lb (3,830 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 16,800 lb (7,630 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet, 5,000 lbf (22 kN)

Performance

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Lockheed P-80/F-80
Bibliography
  • "Canada's Fab Four". Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Limited, August, 2003. ISSN 0955 7091.
  • Flight Comment: The Canadian Forces Flight Safety Magazine. Ottawa: Publishing and Depository Services, Summer 2005. ISSN 0015-3702, .
  • Francillon, René. Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.
  • Pickler, Ron and Milberry, Larry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: Canav Books, 1995. ISBN 0-921022-07-7.
  • "Silver Star Stand Down". Air Classics April 2006, Canoga Park, California: Challenge Publications. ISSN 0002-2241.

[edit] See also

Related development

Related lists

v • d • e
Lists relating to aviation
General
Military
Accidents/incidents
Records