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CT-133 Silver Star
| CT-133 Silver Star | |
|---|---|
| CT-33 Silver Star Mk.3 | |
| Type | Military trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Canadair |
| Designed by | Lockheed Corporation |
| Retired | 2006 |
| Primary user | Royal Canadian Air Force/ Canadian Forces |
| Number built | 656 |
| Developed from | T-33 Shooting Star |
The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star was the license-built version of the T-33 Shooting Star jet trainer.
Contents
Design and development
The Canadair CT-133 is the result of a 1951 contract to build T-33 Shooting Star Trainers for the RCAF. The power plant would be a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbo jet 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 the Silver Star. The appearance of the CT-133 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.[1]
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.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 on an airframe rated for 13,500 flight hours. 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. See also: "Silver Star Stand Down", Air Classics.
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
- Template:BOL
- Template:Country data Canada
- Template:FRA
- Template:Country data Greece
- Template:POR
- Template:TUR
Specifications (T-33)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: 1-2
- Length: 11.48 m (37 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 12.93 m (42 ft 5 in)
- Height: 3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
- Empty weight: 3,830 kg (8,440 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,630 kg (16,800 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet, 22 kN (5,000 lbf)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 500 knots, 920 km/h (570 mph)
- Service ceiling: 14,000 m (47,000 ft)
References
- Notes
- 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.
See also
Related development
Designation sequence
Related lists
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
