Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
(Top) Photo from USAF Museum F-80c
(Above) Photo from Canadian Department of National Defense CT-133
The P-80 Shooting Star (later renamed F-80) holds a number of firsts. It was the first american jet to be mass produced, the first american jet to see action, the first american jet to exceed 800 kph in level flight, and the first jet aircraft to have participated in an all jet battle. The
F-80 Shooting Star can trace its origins back to 1943. By January 1944 XP-80 made its first flight. In 1945 a few P-80's were sent to the European theater for demonstration but arrived to late for combat duties. The F-80 was used extensively in Korea as a fighter bomber. Shooting Stars dropped a wide array of rockets, bombs, and napalm on enemy forces throughout the conflict, while more capable fighters like the F-86's and F-84's performed escort and interception duties. As stated above the F-80 fought the first all jet battle. On November 8 1950 an F-80c of the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron piloted by Lieutenant Russell J. Brown shot down a North Korean MiG-15. After Korea some F-80's were converted to T-33 Shooting Stars. The T-33 still operates in Canada as the CT-133 Silver Star.
Specifications
(Data for F-80c)
Origin: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
Type: High Altitude Interceptor/Fighter Bomber
Crew: Pilot
Powerplant: Alison J33 Turbojet 2916 kg thrust
Dimensions
Span: 38 ft. 10 1/2 in.
Height: 11 ft. 4 in.
Length: 34 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 7 585.2 kg max
Performance
Maximum Speed: 928 kph
Cruising Speed: 699 kph
Climb Rate:
Range: 1744 km
Armament
6x 12.5mm machine gun & 8x 12.7cm rocket or 908 kg of bombs
First Flight: January 8 1944
User(s): RETIRED
Production: 1 731
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