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The final Canadair '''Silver Star Mk. 3''' was retired from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at [[CFB Cold Lake]], Alberta, Canada where it was used as an [[ejection seat]] testbed after 46 years of service. See also: "Canada's Fab Four", Air Forces Monthly. CT-133 number 133648 was delivered to Mountain View CFD on 26 April 2005. Having been built in March 1959 as [T-33] 21648, and had 11,394.6 flight hours at the time of retirement. It has been sold on the civil market, along with fifteen other CT-133s. These aircraft will join the fifty others on the U. S. Civil Register and continue to fly as a part of the living legacy of the early jet age. |
The final Canadair '''Silver Star Mk. 3''' was retired from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at [[CFB Cold Lake]], Alberta, Canada where it was used as an [[ejection seat]] testbed after 46 years of service. See also: "Canada's Fab Four", Air Forces Monthly. CT-133 number 133648 was delivered to Mountain View CFD on 26 April 2005. Having been built in March 1959 as [T-33] 21648, and had 11,394.6 flight hours at the time of retirement. It has been sold on the civil market, along with fifteen other CT-133s. These aircraft will join the fifty others on the U. S. Civil Register and continue to fly as a part of the living legacy of the early jet age. |
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There is one interesting fact. The first RCAF T-33 was 21001. It was surplused and sold to [[Lynn Garrison]] in 1963 for inclusion in his collection. It is now displayed in Edmonton, Alberta on a plinth. 21648 was retired and sold to Anthony Garrison, Lynn's son in 2009. |
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==Variants== |
==Variants== |
Revision as of 17:12, 1 September 2010
CT-133 Silver Star | |
---|---|
CT-133 Silver Star Mk.3 | |
Role | Military trainer aircraft |
National origin | Canada |
Manufacturer | Canadair / Lockheed |
Retired | 2005 (Canadian Forces)[1] Still in service with Bolivian Air Force[citation needed] |
Primary users | Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian Forces |
Number built | 656 |
Developed from | T-33 Shooting Star |
The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star, company model number CL-30) was the Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star jet trainer aircraft, in service from the 1950s to 2005. The Canadian version was powered by the Rolls Royce Nene 10 turbojet, whereas the Lockheed production used the Allison J33.
Design and development
The Canadair T-33 is the result of a 1951 contract to build T-33 Shooting Star Trainers for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The powerplant would be a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33. A project designation of CL-30 was given by Canadair and the name was changed to Silver Star. The appearance of the T-33 is very distinctive due to the large fuel tanks usually carried on each wingtip.
A total of 656 T-33 aircraft were built by Canadair.[2]
Operational history
The T-33 entered service in the RCAF as its primary training aircraft for fighter/interceptors. Its name is an interesting take of the USAF designation "Shooting Star." The RCAF named it the "Silver Star," in honour of Canada's (and the British Empire's) first flight of a heavier-than-air craft, the AEA Silver Dart.[citation needed] The designation of the Silver Star in the Canadian Forces was CT-133.
The T-33 was reliable and had forgiving flight properties. Its service life in the RCAF (and later the Canadian Forces) was extremely long. One of the more unusual roles it played was as an aerobatic demonstration aircraft, the RCAF's Red Knight. Although the aircraft stopped being used as a trainer in 1976, there were still over 50 aircraft in Canadian Forces inventory in 1995. The youngest of these airframes was then 37 years old and had exceeded its expected life by a factor of 2½. During this period, the Canadair T-33 was employed in communication, target towing and enemy simulation.
The final Canadair Silver Star Mk. 3 was retired from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada where it was used as an ejection seat testbed after 46 years of service. See also: "Canada's Fab Four", Air Forces Monthly. CT-133 number 133648 was delivered to Mountain View CFD on 26 April 2005. Having been built in March 1959 as [T-33] 21648, and had 11,394.6 flight hours at the time of retirement. It has been sold on the civil market, along with fifteen other CT-133s. These aircraft will join the fifty others on the U. S. Civil Register and continue to fly as a part of the living legacy of the early jet age.
Variants
- T-33A Silver Star Mk 1 : Two-seat jet training aircraft for the RCAF. Built by Lockheed in the USA, 30 on loan to the RCAF.
- T-33ANX Silver Star Mk 2 : The first Canadian prototype. One built.
- 'Silver Star Mk 3 : Two-seat jet training aircraft for the RCAF.
- Silver Star Mk 3PT : Unarmed version.
- Silver Star Mk 3AT : Armed version.
- Silver Star Mk 3PR : Photo-reconnaissance version.
- CE-133 : Upgraded electronic warfare training aircraft.
- CX-133 : Ejection seat testbed.
- ET-133 : Aerial threat simulator aircraft.
- TE-133 : Anti-ship threat simulator aircraft.
Operators
- Dominican Air Force AT-33A-LO (AT-33 Silver Star)
Survivors/Aircraft on display
The following museums or groups have CT-133 Silver Stars on display or in flyable condition:
- Alberta Aviation Museum
- Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum
- Canadian Air and Space Museum
- Canada Aviation Museum
- Canadian Historical Aircraft Association
- Canadian Museum of Flight
- Comox Air Force Museum
- Jet Aircraft Museum - will eventually have six operational examples
- National Air Force Museum of Canada
- Toronto/Markham Airport[citation needed]
Specifications (CT-133)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1-2
Performance
See also
Related development
Related lists
References
- Notes
- ^ Canadian Forces (2004). "CT-133 Silver Star". Retrieved 2009-01-31.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Lockheed P-80/F-80
- Bibliography
- "Canada's Fab Four". Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Limited, August, 2003. ISSN 0955 7091.
- Flight Comment: The Canadian Forces Flight Safety Magazine. Ottawa: Publishing and Depository Services, Summer 2005. ISSN 0015-3702, .
- Francillon, René. Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.
- Pickler, Ron and Milberry, Larry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: Canav Books, 1995. ISBN 0-921022-07-7.
- "Silver Star Stand Down". Air Classics April 2006, Canoga Park, California: Challenge Publications. ISSN 0002-2241.