<p>Universally known as the 'T-bird', the Lockheed T-33 was slow to be developed but soon became the most important jet trainer in the world, and continues in service today with several air arms.
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<p>Lockheed had flown the prototype P-80 Shooting Star on 8 January 1944, and the type was to gain fame as the USAF's first operational jet fighter, seeing service in Korea. However, the idea of putting a second cockpit into the aircraft, first proposed by Mac Short, was not adopted for some time. Eventually, Lockheed took an F-80C (48-356), lengthened the fuselage by 38.5 in and added a second cockpit, the result being redesignated TF-80C. The two-seater flew for the first time on 22 March 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. It was powered by the trusty Allison J33-A-35 of 4,600 lb thrust, and featured 230-US gal tip tanks. Two of the fighter's six 0.50-in caliber machine guns were retained. The first 128 were delivered as TF-80Cs, but on 5 May 1949 the aircraft changed designation to T-33A. Throughout the following 10 years of production there was no major modification applied to the trainer aircraft, of which some 5,691 were built for the USAF, USN (as the TV-2 and later T-33B) and MAP (military aircraft procurement for friendly nations). Licence production in Canada and Japan raised the total to 6,557.
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<p>In addition to the main task of advanced training, several specialist roles were undertaken by the T-33. Eighty-five aircraft were built as RT-33As, with a camera nose in place of the two machine guns. Although the full-length canopy was retained, the RT-33A was in fact a single-seater, the rear cockpit space being filled by electronic equipment. Other USAF variants produced by conversion were the DT-33A drone controller, NT-33A trials aircraft and QT-33A radio-controlled drone. The AT-33A designation covered aircraft with hardpoints for light weapons, but these were not used by the USAF.
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<p>Use of the T-33A as an advanced trainer began scaling down in the 1960s with the arrival in service of the T-38 Talon. Many retired T-33s were made available for export, while others took up new roles, notably that of target facilities with air defense units. It was in this role that the aircraft flew its last USAF mission in 1988, flying with the 142nd Fighter Interceptor Group, Oregon ANG.
