EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014: The Classic T-33 "T-Bird"



Fred Harl and Carmelo Turdo

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014 featured jet warbirds from previous decades, including the Korean War-era F-86 Sabre featured previously.  Pilots who flew the Sabre and other jet fighters of the 1950s likely received their jet training in the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star or "T-Bird."  First flown on March 22, 1948 as the TF-80C, about 6600 T-33s of all models were produced in the U.S. from 1948-1959 and another 900 produced in Canada and Japan.  The T-33 was used by the U.S. Navy as a land-based and carrier qualifying jet trainer, and employed by no less than 30 countries as a jet trainer and combat aircraft.  The T-33 is a popular display aircraft at numerous airports, military bases and public parks, and is currently flown by civilian operators and airshow performers.  Several T-33s flew at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh during the daily airshows: