Vintage T-33 Shooting Star Air Demonstration

T-33s In Motion

Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars were America’s subsonic jet trainer of the 50s. This aircraft was used for the Undergraduate Pilot Training program before the Northrop T-38 Talon phased it out.

The 38-ft long two-seat trainer had a cruise speed of 455 mph and a maximum speed of 600 mph. Moreover, its Allison J33 centrifugal flow turbojet was rated at 5,400 lbf with water injection during take-off – or 4,600 lbf continuously while dry.

Other T-33s retained their two machine guns from their previous P-80 design for gunnery training. Meanwhile, the Cuban Air Force also successfully used them during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, sinking two transport ships and downing other types of vehicles.

Fun fact:

A Boeing-owned T-33 was the designated chase aircraft during the maiden flights of the Boeing 787 in 2010, Boeing 737 MAX-7 in 2016, and Boeing 777-9 in 2020.