Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
Name	P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star
Caption	A Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star
Type	Fighter aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation
Designer	Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
First flight	8 January 1944
Introduced	1945
Retired	1958 (United States Air Force)
Status	Retired
Primary user	United States Air Force
More users	United States Navy, United States Marine Corps
Number built	1,715
Developed into	Lockheed T-33, Lockheed F-94 Starfire

Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed and built in a remarkably short timeframe by a team led by Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, it entered service in the final months of World War II but saw no combat. The aircraft became a foundational platform for United States Air Force jet aviation, serving as a frontline fighter during the Korean War and evolving into the prolific T-33 trainer.

Development and design

The program was initiated in 1943 after reports of German jet aircraft like the Messerschmitt Me 262 reached the War Department. Under the leadership of Clarence "Kelly" Johnson at the Lockheed Corporation's Skunk Works, the team utilized a British Halford H.1B turbojet engine for the prototype, designated XP-80. The first flight from Muroc Army Air Field occurred in January 1944, piloted by Milo Burcham. The definitive production model, the P-80A, was powered by the American-built General Electric J33 engine and featured a sleek, straight-wing design with a nose-mounted air intake and tricycle landing gear. Armament consisted of six .50 caliber machine guns mounted in the nose.

Operational history

Although delivered to Italy in 1945, the 1st Fighter Group's P-80s arrived too late to engage Luftwaffe aircraft before the end of World War II. The type became the primary jet fighter for the newly independent United States Air Force after 1947, with the designation changing to F-80 under the new system. During the Korean War, F-80Cs conducted the first USAF jet-versus-jet victory when Lieutenant Russell J. Brown engaged a MiG-15 in November 1950. Primarily used for ground attack and interdiction missions, F-80s flew extensive sorties against Korean People's Army and People's Volunteer Army forces. The aircraft also served with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps for evaluation and as advanced trainers.

Variants

The primary variants included the initial XP-80 and XP-80A prototypes. The main production model was the P-80A (F-80A), followed by the improved P-80B (F-80B) with a more powerful J33-A-21 engine and ejection seat. The definitive fighter version was the P-80C (F-80C), which featured further engine upgrades and underwing hardpoints for rockets and bombs. A dedicated photo-reconnaissance version, the RF-80A/C, replaced the nose guns with cameras. The design was extensively redesigned into the two-seat T-33 trainer, which itself led to the F-94 Starfire all-weather interceptor.

Operators

The primary operator was the United States Air Force, including units like the 4th Fighter Wing and 51st Fighter Wing. The United States Navy operated a small number as the TO-1 (later TV-1) for jet familiarization. The United States Marine Corps also used the TV-1. Through Military Assistance Program deliveries, the aircraft was exported to several allied nations. These included the Brazilian Air Force, Chilean Air Force, Colombian Air Force, Ecuadorian Air Force, Peruvian Air Force, and Uruguayan Air Force. The Royal Hellenic Air Force and the Republic of China Air Force also operated the type.

Specifications (P-80A)

* **Crew:** 1 * **Length:** 34 ft 5 in (10.49 m) * **Wingspan:** 38 ft 9 in (11.81 m) * **Height:** 11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) * **Empty weight:** 8,420 lb (3,819 kg) * **Powerplant:** 1 × Allison J33-A-9 centrifugal-flow turbojet, 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust * **Maximum speed:** 558 mph (898 km/h, 485 kn) * **Range:** 1,200 mi (1,900 km, 1,000 nmi) * **Service ceiling:** 45,000 ft (14,000 m) * **Armament:** 6 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M3 machine guns

Aircraft on display

Numerous P-80/F-80 airframes are preserved in museums across North America. Examples include a P-80A at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and an F-80C at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum. Other notable displays can be found at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, and the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino. Several are also mounted as gate guardians at United States Air Force bases like Nellis Air Force Base.

Category:United States fighter aircraft 1940–1949 Category:Lockheed aircraft Category:Single-engined jet aircraft