Aviation ping anyone?
Posted on 04/13/2005 7:46:38 AM PDT by NorthOf45
Silver Stars Forever
by Capt Greg Castagner, AETE Cold Lake;
research by MWO Keith Christensen, AETE Cold Lake.
March 31, 2005
4 WING COLD LAKE – The sun will soon set for the final time on the venerable T-33; officially the CT-133AN "Silver Star" Mark III but more commonly known as the T-Bird. This august airframe, the longest serving aircraft in the history of the CF or RCAF, will cease flying operations on March 31, 2005.
The T-Bird is a two-seat derivative of the Lockheed-designed P-80 "Shooting Star", the world's first full-production jet fighter! The RCAF acquired 20 USAF T-33As in May of 1951 as interim aircraft until the Canadair Corporation could spool-up their T-Bird production line. The Canadair plant in Cartierville PQ rolled out the first Canadian-manufactured T-33, CT-133001, in December of 1952. The CT-133, slightly heavier than the original design, utilized the Rolls-Royce NENE-10 engine, which had greater thrust and was more reliable than the original Allison J-33 engine fitted to the T-33A. The Canadair production run continued until April of 1959 with CT-133656 finishing the Canadian line. The aircraft had a maximum speed of 505 KIAS, a service ceiling of 47,000 ft and a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles.
Accommodating a wide variety of external and internal payloads, the T-33 was the most widely employed aircraft in the CF inventory. Nearly every RCAF station or CF Base had a T-Bird unit or detachment and they served with nearly every squadron that operated jet aircraft. Affectionately dubbed a "Real Maintainers" airframe (owing to the hands-on and 'creative' approach required for maintenance), the T-33 was cared-for by scores of engineers and literally thousands of technicians over it's service life. Originally acquired for pilot training and air-to-ground gunnery practice, hundreds of RCAF and CF pilots earned their wings on the T-Bird. The role of pilot training was given to the CT-114 "Tutor" in 1974 but, given the T-33's reliability and low operating costs, it continued a yeoman's service in a host of roles from combat support for the Army, Navy and the Air Force to electronic warfare training, for many years. The T-33 was withdrawn from operations with 1 CAD units in the summer of 2002, 409/414, 417, 420/434 and 439 Sqns. being the last Air Force units to fly the T-Bird.
Sadly, there have been 168 A-Category (fatality or aircraft destroyed) accidents over the service life of the T-33, including 96 fatalities. Three souls are still listed as 'missing'. The last T-33 accident occurred in western Nova Scotia in 1994 claiming the life of the pilot, Captain Harry Munro.
The last CF unit to operate the T-33 is the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment (AETE). Based at 4 Wing, Cold Lake AB, AETE's mandate is to support the CF airworthiness program. Housed in the Canadian Flight-Test Centre, this ADM (MAT) unit is responsible for all airworthiness testing and engineering evaluation activities for the CF and other customers. AETE currently operates five T-33s which are used for a wide range of missions including utility and aircrew proficiency, photo chase, equipment calibration and flight-test support. AETE has one T-33 specially modified to conduct ejection seat trials. This aircraft has had the aft cockpit removed to make room for a unique ejection-seat rail system that can accommodate nearly any model of ejection seat.
Of the final five aircraft, one has been donated to the Cold Lake heritage museum and the others will be ferried to the CF aircraft storage facility in Mountainview ON, for disposal.
The retirement of the T-33 will be marked by a reception at the 4 Wing Officer's Mess followed by a T-Bird themed Mess Dinner on the occasion of the anniversary of the RCAF. A twilight flypast, the very last for the T-33, will open the Mess Dinner and formally close T-Bird operations.
The T-33 retires as one of the most versatile, successful and respected jet aircraft ever produced. As of March 31 2005, the "Silver Star" will have flown in RCAF or CF service for nearly 54 years and will have logged nearly 2.4 million flight hours! A set of bronze plaques, which will be dedicated at a ceremony at 4 Wing, will be set with a T-33 gate guardian in the City of Cold Lake. These tablets honour the men and women who served with the T-33 and commemorate the distinguished service of the Silver Star, forever.
What will the Canadians use now as their front-line interceptor?
Outsourcing to USAF.
LOL, you guys slay me.
---What will the Canadians use now as their front-line interceptor?---
LOL
They can rely on US....they don't need a military
I got my chance and was amazed and how agile and fast that old bird was. When they say 'balls to the walls' that's what literally happens.
Now I know why fighter jocks have those silly-looking g-suits. And 'Gold Bond' medicated powder ;-)
Thank you ... someone who appreciates the post. : )
No matter what the neo-cons and Ottawa-this-world libs do, the US and Canada will always be good neighbors ;-)
A pity they won't sell it to a collector...
Before the A-10 went into production we used to have a squadron of AT-33s here at Barksdale AFB.
I always liked the goofy little things.
How will they defend against the Russian MiG 19s or German Me242s? Madness!
I flew backseat in a TBird as a Cadet qat the USAF Academy. Designated "Smoky 75" we did barrel rolls over Pike's Peak and pulled a full 5 g's in one turn. Great little plane
I was shocked to see a CF T-33 at an airshow nearly 15 years ago and couldn't believe it was still in active service. However, look at the venerable B-52 that is still in our active inventory.
NAH. They are still peeved because they found out that they can't actually join the EU!
What will happen to the Canadian Air Force when their helicopter finally breaks down?
Will they fix it, or buy another?
LOL. Don't worry, we still have a squadron of Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes and a couple of P-51's hanging about. I'm told we may even have a Sopwith Camel......
I had no clue it was still operational myself. Maybe for training, but how does one jump from a T-33 to an F-18?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.