Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite
Dutch Modelling and Aviation
Lockheed T-33A & RT-33
History
Lockheed T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.
This aircraft made its maiden flight as early as 1944 and there were more than 1700 Shooting Stars were built.
Due to the large number of accidents at the beginning of the career of the P-80, the USAF decided to develop a trainer version, the TP-80C, which made its first flight in March 1948.
This prototype had originally also two additional tip tanks at the wing-tips, but because an internal fuel tank was removed because of the second seat, the flight range was very small. It was therefore decided to replace the two tip tanks with two fixed tanks of 230 gallons each.
In 1949, the type designation was changed to Lockheed T-33A, because of the large number of differences from the P-80.
Eventually more than 6500 aircraft built, including a version for the U.S. Navy, marked Lockheed TV-2, covering more than 950 pieces.
Furthermore, Kawasaki has 190 units built under license in Canada by Canadair and a further 656 examples with a Rolls Royce Nene of 2313 kg of thrust.
Dimensions: | |||
Length: | 11,48 m | Wingspan (tip tanks included): | 12,93 m |
Height: | 3,55 m | Wing area: | - m2 |
Weights: | |||
Empty weight: | 3775 kg | Max. start weight: | 6865 kg |
Performances: | |||
Max. speed: | 970 km/hr | Climbing speed: | - m/min |
Cruising speed: | - km/hr | ||
Range: | 2050 km | Service ceiling: | 14 600 m |
Miscellaneous: | |||
Engine type: | One Allison J-33-A-35 rated 24 kN | ||
Crew: |
T-33: One instructor plus one pupil; RT-33: one pilot |
||
Armament: | None |
The Dutch Air Force received from different resources the T-33: from Belgium, eight aircraft for a period of several years were borrowed; eleven examples were taken from the USAF, and another five T-33s were taken from the U.S., but were been scrapped for spare parts and the bulk, 44 pieces were transferred under MDAP (Mutual Defence Assistance Program).
One of the RT-33A's, the M-103 came from the Turkish Air Force.
Initially the T-33A was used primarily as a training aircraft at 313 Squadron at Volkel and later they were used for the Transition training at Woensdrecht and Twenthe.
Photo Recce.
The transition of the photo reconnaissance version of the Thunderjet, F-84E to the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash was considered to be to big by the U.S. , so at first the pilots needed to gain some experience with the RT-33.
Thus, the Dutch photo reconnaissance squadron, 306 squadron, used the Rt-33 over two years.
In September 1953 the 306 squadron at Volkel received its first aircraft, the F-84g Thunderjet. This new squadron was assigned reconnaissance, both visually and with photos.
November 1953 tests were taken with a K.20 camera in the left tip tank of an F-84E. These tests were successful, so in 1954 the F-84G was replaced by the F-84E with customized T-33 tip tanks.
In September 1954 306 squadron was stationed for a about two months at the German air base Bückeburg. At that time it had also become clear that the Thunderjet became obsolete.
306 squadron would be equipped with a real photo reconnaissance aircraft, the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash.
To prepare for this new aircraft, in August 1955 the squadron received two Lockheed RT-1933 photo reconnaissance.
These were coded TP-19 and TP-20, as already some the Thunderflashes coded TP-1 to TP-18, were received.
The RT-33A had four cameras in the nose, three K18 and a K22 camera, which were a big improvement over the single K20 camera of the Thunderjet.
Basically the aviator had first a number of flight hours on the RT-33A to make before deciding to switch to the Thunder Flash.
After two years the squadron was fully switched to the RF-84F Thunderflash and the RT-33's were redundant. Meanwhile, a third RT-33A was added to the inventory of the squadron.
The Thunderflashes were mainly used for operational photographs and the RT-33A mainly for external photo tasks, for example, pictures of ice or the delta works.
At the end of 1957, when 306 squadron was transferred to Deelen airbase, it was also decided that the squadron would perform only operational photography. It was at the end of 1958 when a separate photo section was raised for executing other photography tasks , the Base Photo Flight Deelen.
This unit consisted of a number of Piper Cubs, Harvards and three RT-33As.
Because the RT-33s were no longer assigned to an operational squadron, they receiver again their M-registrations on the nose.
The photo flight was under command of CTL. As at CTL all aircraft were camouflaged so the aircraft of th photo flight were also camouflaged. In 1968, the Photo flight was abolished. The cameras of RT33 were much earlier, namely in 1963 removed and mainly used as trainers at TVO at air base Woensdrecht.
During the sixties, the camouflage was removed and the RT-33s were sprayed overall aluminium dope .
TP-19 (M-101) had made an emergency landing on January 24, 1959 on the Hoge Veluwe. The aircraft was easy to repair, but is scrapped because of the lack of spare at that time.
Serial overview Lockheed RT-33 RNlAF
Serial | Squadron-code | US Fiscal Year-nr. | Constr. nr. | Date in service | Date out of service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M-101 | TP-19 | 54-1541 | 9164 | 24-01-1959 | 16-08-1955 | Written off. |
M-102 | TP-20 | 54-1542 | 9169 | 16-08-1955 | 06-07-1971 | To Greece. |
M-103 | TP-21 | 54-1522 | 9139 | 13-06-1957 | 21-10-1971 | Scrapped |
Serial overview Lockheed T-33A RNlAF
Serial
Serial
| Squadron Code
Squadron Code
| Fiscal Year nr.
Fiscal Year nr.
| Constr. nr.
Constr. nr.
| Date in service
Date in service
| Date out of service
Date out of service
| Notes
notes
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M-1 | TR-1 | 51-4511 | 5806 | 22-08-1952 | 26-05-1972 | To Turkey |
M-2 | TR-2 | 51-4512 | 5807 | 29-08-1952 | 26-05-1972 | To Turkey |
M-3 | TR-3 | 51-6574 | 5906 | 08-09-1952 | 18-06-1957 | 22-09-1956; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-4 | TR-4 | 51-6577 | 5909 | 12-09-1952 | 12-10-1971 | To Greece |
M-5 | TR-5 | 51-9028 | 6812 | 25-06-1953 | 02-06-1972 | Preserved, to Military Aviation museum Soesterberg |
M-6 | TR-6 | 51-9029 | 6813 | 25-06-1953 | 26-05-1972 | To Turkey |
M-7 | TR-7 | 51-9148 | 6932 | 7-08-1953 | 13-12-1957 | 03-07-1957; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-8 | TR-8 | 51-9149 | 6933 | 7-08-1953 | 03-04-1967 | Base flight Leeuwarden. 06-02-1967; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-9 | TR-9 | 51-9254 | 7038 | 10-09-1953 | 06-07-1971 | To Greece |
M-10 | TR-10 | 51-17461 | 7252 | 02-10-1953 | 15-09-1958 | Base flight Eindhoven. 11-08-1958; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-11 | TR-11 | 51-17466 | 7257 | 02-10-1953 | 25-05-1972 | To Ethiopia |
M-12 | TR-12 | 51-17459 | 7250 | 16-01-1954 | 29-07-1963 | Base flight Eindhoven. 09-07-1963; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-13 | TR-13 | 51-17510 | 7490 | 16-01-1954 | 31-03-1957 | 28-02-1957; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-14 | TR-14 | 51-17498 | 7469 | 23-02-1954 | 12-10-1971 | To Greece |
M-15 | TR-15 | 51-17530 | 7590 | 23-02-1954 | 10-02-1964 | 23-07-1963; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-16 | TR-16 | 51-17533 | 7698 | 11-03-1954 | 26-05-1972 | To Turkey |
M-17 | TR-17 | 51-17556 | 7701 | 11-03-1954 | 06-07-1971 | To Greece |
M-18 | TR-18 | 52-9877 | 7703 | 11-03-1954 | 13-12-1957 | 03-07-1957; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-19 | TR-19 | 52-9899 | 7795 | 11-03-1954 | 15-07-1964 | 26-05-1964; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-20 | TR-20 | 52-9900 | 7796 | 11-03-1954 | 06-07-1971 | To Greece |
M-21 | TR-21 | 51-17491 | 7471 | 24-03-1954 | 15-09-1972 | To Turkey |
M-22 | TR-22 | 51-17518 | 7578 | 24-03-1954 | 09-09-1954 | Base flight Eindhoven. 09-06-1954; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-23 | TR-23 | 51-17542 | 7687 | 01-04-1954 | 14-03-1955 | 11-02-1955; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-24 | TR-24 | 52-9876 | 7702 | 01-04-1954 | 20-12-1971 | To Greece |
M-25 | TR-25 | 51-17549 | 7694 | 01-04-1954 | 20-12-1971 | To Greece |
M-26 | TR-26 | 52-9881 | 7777 | 01-04-1954 | 12-10-1971 | To Greece |
M-27 | TR-27 | 52-9922 | 7893 | 25-04-1954 | 26-05-1972 | To Turkey |
M-28 | TR-28 | 51-17541 | 7686 | 27-04-1954 | 26-05-1972 | To Turkey |
M-29 | TR-29 | 52-9913 | 7884 | 27-04-1954 | 6-07-1971 | To Greece |
M-30 | TR-30 | 52-9924 | 7895 | 13-05-1954 | 13-12-1957 | Base flight Eindhoven. 25-05-1957; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-31 | TR-31 | 54-1582 | 9271 | 19-10-1955 | 19-03-1963 | Base flight Eindhoven. 07-02-1963; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-32 | TR-32 | 54-1583 | 9272 | 19-10-1955 | 12-10-1971 | To Greece |
M-33 | TR-33 | 54-1612 | 9348 | 19-10-1955 | 23-06-1970 | 23-06-1970; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-34 | TR-34 | 54-1613 | 9349 | 19-10-1955 | 12-10-1971 | 12-10-1971; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-35 | TR-35 | 54-1614 | 9350 | 19-10-1955 | 12-10-1971 | To Greece |
M-36 | TR-36 | 54-1615 | 9351 | 19-10-1955 | 19-12-1962 | 19-12-1962; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-37 | TR-37 | 55-4950 | 9910 | 11-01-1957 | 10-06-1971 | Base flight Soesterberg. 10-06-1971; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-38 | TR-38 | 55-4951 | 9911 | 27-02-1957 | 20-12-1971 | To Greece |
M-39 | TR-39 | 55-4961 | 9921 | 27-02-1957 | 12-03-1972 | To Turkey |
M-40 | TR-40 | 55-4962 | 9922 | 0-03-1957 | 20-02-1967 | 20-02-1967; Written off (Due to accident) |
M-41 | TR-41 | 55-4952 | 9912 | 08-07-1957 | 17-03-1972 | To Turkey |
M-42 | 51-4151 | 5445 | 04-04-1962 | 26-05-1972 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-5 | |
M-43 | 51-4152 | 5446 | 04-04-1962 | 26-05-1972 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-4 | |
M-44 | 51-4231 | 5525 | 04-04-1962 | 26-05-1972 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-6 | |
M-45 | 51-4233 | 5527 | 04-04-1962 | 26-05-1972 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-7 | |
M-46 | 51-6662 | 5994 | 04-04-1962 | 21-07-1965 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-8; 08-06-1965; Written off (Due to accident) |
|
M-47 | 51-6661 | 5993 | 04-04-1962 | 07-08-1972 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-11 | |
M-48 | 49-0884 | 5034 | 07-02-1964 | 05-05-1972 | Became N652, civil | |
M-49 | 50-0370 | 5223 | 05-02-1964 | 31-01-1971 | Became N651, civil | |
M-50 | 51-4384 | 5679 | 30-01-1964 | 26-05-1972 | To NLC Hoofddorp | |
M-51 | 51-6528 | 5860 | 30-01-1964 | 15-12-1970 | Became N650, civil | |
M-52 | 51-6953 | 6285 | 09-03-1964 | 15-04-1971 | Became N648, civil | |
M-53 | 51-8760 | 6544 | 30-01-1964 | 31-07-1971 | Became N647, civil | |
M-54 | 51-17411 | 7150 | 05-02-1964 | 26-05-1972 | To Woensdrecht (gate guard) | |
M-55 | 51-6531 | 5863 | 30-01-1964 | 16-12-1970 | Became N649, civil | |
M-56 | 51-8824 | 6608 | 30-01-1964 | 31-01-1971 | Became N646, civil | |
M-57 | 51-17416 | 7155 | 29-01-1964 | 21-07-1965 | 08-06-1965; Written off (Due to accident) | |
M-58 | 52-9671 | 7856 | 29-01-1964 | 26-05-1972 | To Ethiopia | |
M-59 | 51-4062 | 5356 | 18-11-1965 | 26-05-1972 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-3 | |
M-60 | 51-6663 | 5995 | 01-09-1966 | 26-05-1972 | Taken over from Belgian Air Force; was FT-9 | |
49-1006 | 5156 | Used for spare parts | ||||
51-4477 | 5772 | Used for spare parts | ||||
51-6875 | 6207 | Used for spare parts | ||||
51-6881 | 6213 | Used for spare parts | ||||
51-8756 | 6540 | Used for spare parts |
1/72nd Scale
Kits
- Heller
- Kit 80301: Lockheed T-33A/RT-33
- Hasegawa
- Kit AO18:250 / 2400361 / 00706: Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star [Kit 00706 was released with decals for Dutch Whiskey 4 display team]
- Platz
- Kit AC14: Lockheed T33 T-Bird with engine (JASDF)
- Kit AC11: Lockheed T33 T-Bird (Hamamatsu AFB JASDF)
- Kit AC8: Lockheed T33 T-Bird (USAF U.S Bicentennial 1976)
- Kit AC6: Lockheed T33 T-Bird (JASDF)
- Sword
- Kit 72028SE: Lockheed T33 Shooting Star (JASDF, Bundesluftwaffe, Italian AF)
A model of a Lockheed T-33A, built by Adri Kleijn.
A model of a Lockheed RT-33A, built by Adri Kleijn.
Modeling add-on
- Airwaves
- Set AC72107: Detailset Lockheed T33 Shooting Star
- Eduard
- Set E73-409 / SS409: Detailset Lockheed T33 T'bird Interior Self Adhesive (Platz)
- Flightpath
- Set 72-119A: Acces ladder Set 10 voor Lockheed T33/F94
- Set 72-127A: Lockheed T33/F94
- True Detail
- Set 72405: Lockheed F80-T33 Shooting Star Ejection Seat
Decals
- Dutch Decal
- Set 72012: Set decals for different aircraft such as a Lockheed T.33 in SkyShark display team scheme.
- Set 72080: Dutch Jets (Meteor F MK4/8, Lockheed T33, NF5A/B)
- FlevoDecal
- Set FD72-005: Decals for several Dutch trainser as Lockheed T.33A
1/48th Scale
Kits
- Academy
- Kit 12240: Lockheed T33A/CT133 Shooting Star "US Air Force"
- Kit 2185: Lockheed T33A Shooting Star
- Hobbycraft
- Kit HC1595: Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star
Modelling add-on
- Squadron
- Set 09633: Lockheed T33 Shooting Star
- Scale Aircraft Conversions
- Set 48120: Lockheed T33A T Bird Landing Gear (replacement for 1/48 Academy/HobbyCraft
Decals
- FlevoDecal
- Set FD48-005: Royal Netherlands Air Force Jet Trainers
- Dutch Decal
- Set 48008: Set decals voor Lockheed RT-33A 306 Sqn. Lockheed T-33A 313 Sqn. GD F-16A 311 Sqn. GD F -16A 40 Jaar 312’ Sqn.GD F-16A 313 ‘Tiger’ Sqn.KLu. Brewster Buffalo ML/KNIL.Sqn badge 120Sqn. P-40N.
- Set 48009: T-33A 313 Sqn KLu Demo ‘SkySharks’, P-51D 122 Sqn ML/KNIL, Curtiss Hawk ML/KNIL, B-25J 16 Sqn. ML/KNIL, Spitfire LF Mk.IXc 322 Sqn. F-4F Phantom Luftwaffe/313 /315 Sqn.
Scheme | Coloour Name | FS number | BS number | Humbrol | XtraColor | Vallejo Model Color | Vallejo Model Air | Hataka | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard #1 | Overall | Bare metal | 191 / 56 | X216 | 70.864 | - | |||
Yellow ribbons on fuselage and wings | Trainer yellow | 154 | 70.953 | 71.078 | ~066 | ||||
Standard #2 | Overall | Bare metal | 191 / 56 | X216 | 70.864 | - | |||
Nose, wingtip, part of fuselage | Day Glo | 209 | 70.733 | - | |||||
Lockheed RT-33 M-102 and M-103 from 1962 and on | |||||||||
Standard #3 | Upper surfaces | RAF Dark Sea Grey | ~6099 | BS:638 | 156 | X130 | 70.836 | 71.405 | ~144 |
RAF Dark Green | BS:641 | 163 | X001 | 70.892 | 71.324 | ~143 | |||
Undersides | PRU Blue | BS:636 | 124 / 230 | X008 | 71.109 | ~207 |
Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.
Lockheed T-33A
Lockheed RT-33
Camouflage scheme Lockheed RT-33A; The pattern of this scheme is unknown.
The pattern and colours shown here are derived from the pattern used for the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. This pattern is most probably used in the RT-33.
More information about this scheme is welcome!
The pattern and colours shown here are derived from the pattern used for the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak. This pattern is most probably used in the RT-33.
More information about this scheme is welcome!
Literature.
Van Brik tot Starfighter | H. Hooftman | 1965 | La Rivière en Voorhoeve - Zwolle | |
Cockpit, nummer 11, 1966 jaargang 7, November 1966 | Hugo Hooftman | Pag. 434 - 437 | 1966 | COCKPIT-uitgeverij, Bennekom |
Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld. deel 2 | Hugo Hooftman | Pag. 84 - 91 | 1977 | Uitgever: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel |
Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978 | Paul A. Jackson | Pag. 77; 89 - 90 | 1978 | Uitgever: Midland Countries Publications, Leicester |
Aircraft Number 40 P-80 Shooting Star T-33/F-94 in action. | Larry Davis | Pag. 20 - 26 | 1980 | Uitgever: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., Carrolton, Texas |
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht | Willem Helfferich | Pag. 76; 93 | 1983 | Uitgever: Unieboek b.v., Houten |
AVIA: 43e jaargang nummer 4: Luchtvloot van Plastic: De T-bird in USAFe-kleuren op Soesterberg | Hans Loeber | Pag. 124 - 126 | 1984 | Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam |
KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913 | Wim Schoenmaker & Thijs Postma | Pag. 106 | 1987 | Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar |
Van Luchtvaartafdeling tot Koninklijke Luchtmacht 75 jaar Militaire Luchtvaart in Nederland | Koos van de Berg | Pag. 51 | 1988 | Uitgever: Rebo Produkties, Sassenheim |
Vliegend in Nederland Lockheed T-33A | G.A. Hilterman | Pag. | 1988 | Uitgever: Flash Aviation, Eindhoven |
DemoTeams van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht | Antoon Louwers | Pag. 24 - 25 | 1988 | Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar |
Modelbouw in Plastic jaargang 17, nummer 1: Stuntteams Skysharks en Whiskey Four | Fred Bachofner | Pag. 2 - 5 | 1988 | Uitgever: I.P.M.S. Nederland, Nederland |
Luchtvaartwereld; 7e jaargang nummer 3: De (R)T-33 in dienst van de Klu | G.A. Hilterman | Pag. 83 - 88 | 1990 | Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel |
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht (derde herzien druk) | Willem Helfferich | Pag. 29 - 33; 120 | 1994 | Uitgevers Wyt, Rotterdam |
Camouflage en Kentekens | J.Greuter e.a. | 1997 | Bonneville – Bergen (NH) | |
Nieuwsbrief nummer 61 April 1997: De vliegtuigen van het MLM: Lockheed T-33A | Hans Berfelo | Pag. 10 - 20 | 1997 | Uitgever: St. Vrienden v.h. Mil. Luchtv. Museum, Soesterberg |
Websites.
- Aero-Web.org; Lockheed RT-33A
- Aero-Web.org; Lockheed T-33A
- Aero-Web.org:Locator: Lockheed T-33
- CombatAircraft.com: Lockheed T-33A
- Wikipedia UK: Lockheed T-33A
- Lockheed T-33
- TheOldHometown: Lockheed T-33
- WardBirdAlley.com: Lockheed T-33
- CuberModeller.com: Lockheed T-33
- EjectionSite.com: Lockheed T-33
- Lockheed T-33 Foundation
- Restoration Lockheed T-33 and more, by M. Waterloo
Special thanks to mr H. Groeneveld and mr. P. Sturm for providing me with lots of information about the markings of the Lockheed T.33