History:
History: The T-33 was the most widely used jet trainer in the world. A two-seat version of the USAF’s first jet fighter, the F-80 Shooting Star, the T-33 continues to serve in various armed forces today.
The T-33 is a F-80 with a lengthened fuselage to make room for the second tandem seat. It entered service during the 1950s, and the US Navy also acquired the type and had it modified for blue-water operation as the TV-2. It was the USAFs first jet trainer. It soon was dubbed the ‘T-Bird’ and was being produced under license in both Japan and Canada. In Japan, Kawasaki built 210 of these trainers. In Canada, the T-33 was designated the CL-30 Silver Star and the Allison turbojets of the original were replaced with Canadian built Rolls-Royce Nene 10 engines. The type still serves as a trainer for both countries. Limited numbers were also produced for export, some being modified to carry light armament. While only 1,718 P-80 Shooting Stars were built, nearly 7,000 T-33s saw active service around the world.
Until recently, the T-33 continued to serve in Canada as a target tug and general utility aircraft, having been re-designated the CT-133. Additional examples are still in active military service in Japan and several other nations. About 50 are in the hands of warbird operators, mostly in the United States.
| Registration Number | Date of Manufacture |
| N433RD | 1957 |
| Aircraft Role | Nickname |
| Trainer | T-Bird |
| Aircraft Type: | Wingspan: |
| Canadair T-33 Mk III | 38’10” |
| Overall length: | Empty weight: |
| 37’9″ | 9295 |
| Gross weight: | Fuel capacity: |
| 16,800 | 813 gallons |
| Oil capacity | Engine type: |
| Rolls Royce Nene 10 | |
| Propeller type: | Max Speed |
| 505 knots indicated/.80 mach | |
| Rate of Climb | Cruise Speed |
| 4000 fpm | .70 mach |
| Service Ceiling | Number of Crew |
| 44,000′ | 2 |
| Armament | Bomb Load |
| Two .50 caliber machine guns, rockets, bombs | |
| Number Built | Number Surviving |
| 656 by Canadair Limited |
Restoration
In 1997, while in service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, this aircraft went through an extensive ground-up Depot-Level repair and resoration of all structures, systems along with updated instruments and avionics. The total cost at the time approached $1 million USD.
Restoration Images
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Printable QR Codes for: Paul Keppeler’s T-33 jet trainer:
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