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| Canadair CT-133 Silver Star | |
|---|---|
| Name | Canadair CT-133 Silver Star |
| Type | Jet trainer / light attack |
| Manufacturer | Canadair |
| First flight | 1948 (as T-33 derivation development) |
| Introduced | 1951 (RCAF) |
| Retired | 2005 (civil) |
| Primary user | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Produced | 1951–1956 |
| Number built | 656 |
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star is a Canadian-built jet trainer and utility aircraft derived from the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star family, produced by Canadair for service with the Royal Canadian Air Force and export customers. Combining licensed manufacture, local modification, and extended operational use, the CT-133 served in pilot training, electronic warfare, target towing, and test support roles across Cold War and post–Cold War eras. Its longevity linked it to institutions such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Canadian Forces, and numerous training schools, appearing frequently at airshows and in museum collections.
Development of the CT-133 followed licence-production arrangements between Canadair and Lockheed Corporation, reflecting post-Second World War expansion of jet training for allied air arms including the Royal Canadian Air Force. Canadair engineers incorporated modifications to meet requirements issued by the Department of National Defence (Canada), adapting the Lockheed T-33 basic airframe, powerplant installation, and avionics fit for operations in Canadian climates and across NATO circuits. Design priorities emphasized tandem seating for dual instruction, simple maintenance comparable to contemporary types such as the Aermacchi MB-326, and compatibility with weapons training needs defined by NATO air doctrine during the Cold War.
Production began at Canadair’s plants in Montreal under licence, yielding variants tailored to training, target towing, and electronic warfare. The CT-133 fleet included specialized subtypes fitted with telemetry, reconnaissance, or radar-warning equipment for collaboration with institutions like the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment and experimental units at RCAF Station Rockcliffe. Some airframes were completed as the Canadair-built versions of the Lockheed T-33A, while others received unique Canadian serials and local manufacturing changes. Exports and transfers placed CT-133s with allied services and civilian contractors, paralleling procurement patterns seen with the Folland Gnat and the BAC Jet Provost in Commonwealth air forces.
The CT-133 entered service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the early 1950s, equipping flying schools and operational conversion units including No. 3 Flying Training School and No. 2 Air Navigation School. Across the Cold War the type supported NATO exercises alongside squadrons of the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force, while domestically it undertook maritime patrol training with units operating from bases such as CFB Comox and CFB Greenwood. CT-133s participated in airshow demonstrations, provided jet familiarization for pilots destined for types like the CF-100 Canuck and Avro Arrow project developments, and later served in test roles with facilities like the National Research Council (Canada). Civilian operators used retired CT-133s for adversary training and as chase planes in flight-test programs.
The CT-133 retained the straight-wing, single-engine layout characteristic of the T-33 Shooting Star lineage, with tandem seating and dual controls for instructional duties. Power was provided by variants of the Allison J33 turbojet, integrated into an airframe with tip tanks for fuel capacity mirrored in contemporaries such as the Lockheed P-80. Avionics suites evolved across service life, with later CT-133s receiving updated radios and navigation gear compatible with NATO procedures and local air traffic systems influenced by standards from the International Civil Aviation Organization. Structural adaptations included corrosion protection suited to operations from maritime bases and provisions for underwing stores to facilitate weapons-display and gunnery pass training similar to practices used by Royal Australian Air Force trainers.
Major military operator: the Royal Canadian Air Force / Canadian Forces. Secondary and civilian operators included flight test establishments, contractor adversary training firms, and export customers placed through Canadian military assistance programs; recipients and users paralleled relationships seen between Canada and partners such as Australia, New Zealand, and various European air arms during NATO cooperation. Individual CT-133 airframes also served with museums and private collectors in the United States, United Kingdom, and elsewhere.
Numerous CT-133 airframes survive in static and flying condition. Museums and institutions preserving examples include the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, the National Air Force Museum of Canada, the Vintage Wings of Canada collection, and international institutions like the National Museum of the United States Air Force which display related contexts alongside the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star lineage. Airworthy examples appear at airshows operated by heritage groups and private owners, contributing to public education on postwar aviation and Cold War pilot training practices.
- Crew: 2 (student and instructor) - Length: ~11.4 m (T-33 family comparable) - Wingspan: ~11.9 m - Powerplant: 1 × Allison J33 turbojet (variant-dependent) - Maximum speed: approx. 970 km/h (subject to variant and conditions) - Range: with tip tanks extended comparable to contemporary trainer range figures - Armament: provisions for underwing stores for training purposes (machine gun pods, rocket training racks in some configurations)
Category:Jet trainer aircraft Category:Canadair aircraft Category:Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft