KLu: Lockheed T-33

As a two-seat jet trainer the Lockheed T-33 – commonly known as ” T-Bird” – was developed from the F-80 Shooting Star jet fighter during the Fifties.

The design was such a success that no less than about six thousand of these aircraft were built and delivered not only to the U.S. military forces but also to their foreign allies under the MDAP-pact (Military Defense Aid Programme). License-building of the type was undertaken in Canada and Japan.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (or : KLu.) had in total 60 T-33’s in service that were received from different sources (serialled M-1 to M-60) and three RT-33’s for special duties (M-101 to M-103).

Many pilots from the Fifties to the Seventies received their advanced training on these two-seater jets and they were also used for aerobatics : the demo-team Whisky Four attracted much attention at the time with their excellent four-ship formation flying.

The last operational KLu-flight with the T-33 took place in June of 1972 and many aircraft were transferred to other (NATO-)countries for further use.

The aircraft serialled M-5 , M-50 and M-54 (the latter painted in Whisky Four-colours as “M-52”) are being preserved in the Netherlands today.

The T-33 has been a well known type of aircraft for us since we have seen hundreds of them flying during their operational period. The pictures we show you here are sometimes taken under difficult circumstances. Enjoy this gallery dedicated to the LOCKHEED T-33 “T-BIRD” !

(note that this type of KLu aircraft has been frequently seen by us in active operational service which is the reason for composing this photo gallery)

3 Comments

  1. R.ROBINSON. Reply

    Dear Sir,
    Your website is extremely interesting and with very nice photographs ,However, I wondered if you would be so kind as to assist me with a query please.
    Were the inner sides of the RT-33 and (R)F-84G, a dark green or black ,please .
    Yours sincerely ,R.Robinson.

  2. J.W.J. TAP Reply

    GEACHTE HEREN;
    WAAROM STAAT BIJ DE FOTO’S VAN DE T33 NIET HET TOESTEL VAN DE M8??
    MET VRIENDELIJKE GROETEN , Jean-luc Tap

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