<p>Canadair CT-133 SILVER STAR
The Silver Star is more often referred to as the T-33 or  T-Bird. The CT-133 Silver Star has a long and distinguished history with the Canadian Forces. The world's first purpose-built jet trainer, the T-33 evolved from America's first successful jet fighter. The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star that briefly flew operationally during the Second World War. Initially known as the P-80C, the trainer variant flew better than its single seat cousins. Powered by an Allison J33-35 single-shaft, turbojet engine with a thrust rating of 5,200 lbs, the improvements to the trainer meant it climbed faster, cruised better and overall was slightly faster than the fighter version. In May 1949, the designation for the aircraft was officially switched to T-33.
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The RCAF's first introduction to the aircraft followed two years later, when the first of twenty Lockheed built T-33As were delivered on loan. The aircraft were known to the RCAF was the Silver Star Mk 1. This first batch was followed by a second loan of ten more aircraft. On 13 September 1951, Canadair signed a license agreement with Lockheed to build T-33 aircraft for the RCAF.
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/88123769@N02">Bernard Spragg. NZ</a> from Christchurch, New Zealand
2007-10-18 05:56
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/volvob12b/14377306693/">Canadair CT-133 SILVER STAR</a>