I loved this little trainer aircraft. I first met her in Nam and had a minor repair job on her. She was sleek and small. I fell in love with her. At Stewart AFB in Nov 1969 I discovered several of these aircraft had wing mount bracket cracks that I brought to my bosses attention. They reminded me I was only TDY there and I didn't see anything. They would take care of the problem. I tried to explain to them the severity of the problem. They informed me to drop the subject that they would take care of everything. I relented and said, "OK." Unbeknown to me a short time later the base closed. My superiors obviously knew something was going on that I wasn't privy to. The cracked brackets became someone else problem. I was given the pleasure of again working on these aircraft in Michigan at Wurtsmith AFB while I was in the 94 FIS (the Hat-in-the- Ring squadron). I worked on these birds also at Wurtsmith AFB, MI when the 94 FIS was transferred to Florida and we suddenly became the 2nd FIS. I believe the reason I enjoyed working on these particular Aircraft is because I had so little actual repair work to do on them.
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T-33 Shooting Star (T-Bird) Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications (T-33A)
General characteristics
* Crew: Two * Length: 37 ft 9 in (11.2 m) * Wingspan: 38 ft 10.5 in (11.5 m) * Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.3 m) * Empty weight: 8,300 lb (3,775 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 15,100 lb (6,865 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Allison J33-A-35 centrifugal compressor turbojet, 5,400 lbf (23 kN)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 600 mph (970 km/h) * Range: 1,275 miles ferry (2,050 km) * Service ceiling 48,000 ft (14,600 m)
Armament
* (AT-33) 2x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M3 machine guns with 350 rounds per gun * Up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of ordnance on two underwing hardpoints. Weapons carried include bombs and rocket pods.
