Engineering:Canadair CT-133 Silver Star

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Short description: Canadian military training aircraft

CT-133 Silver Star
Canadair CT-133 (cropped).jpg
CT-133 Silver Star
Role Military trainer aircraft
National origin Canada
Manufacturer Canadair / Lockheed
First flight December 1952
Primary users Royal Canadian Air Force
Canadian Forces
Number built 656
Developed from Lockheed T-33

The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star (company model number CL-30) is the Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33 jet trainer aircraft, in service from the 1950s to 2005. The Canadian version was powered by the Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet, whereas the Lockheed production used the Allison J33.

Design and development

The Canadair CT-133 was the result of a 1951 contract to build T-33 Shooting Star trainers for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The powerplant is a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33. A project designation of CL-30 was given by Canadair and the name was changed to Silver Star. The appearance of the CT-133 is very distinctive due to the large fuel tanks usually carried on each wingtip.

A total of 656 CT-133 aircraft were built by Canadair.[1]

Operational history

Two CT-133s of the Royal Canadian Navy over Halifax in 1957

The CT-133 entered service in the RCAF as its primary training aircraft for fighter/interceptors. The designation of the Silver Star in the Canadian Forces was CT-133.

The CT-133's service life in the RCAF (and later the Canadian Forces) was extremely long. One of the more unusual roles it played was as an aerobatic demonstration aircraft, the RCAF's Red Knight. Although the aircraft stopped being used as a trainer in 1976, there were still over 50 aircraft in Canadian Forces inventory in 1995. The youngest of these airframes was then 37 years old and had exceeded its expected life by a factor of 2.5. During this period, the Canadair T-33 was employed in communication, target towing, and enemy simulation.

A Canadair CT-133 Silver Star at RAF Elvington
A line of Canadair CT-133 Silver Stars of 417 Combat Support Squadron at CFB Cold Lake
Canadair CT-133 Silver Star without wingtip tanks, in RCAF markings at the Canadian Museum of Flight, July 1988

The final Canadair Silver Star Mk. 3 was retired from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, where it was used as an ejection seat testbed after 46 years of service.[2] CT-133 number 133648 was delivered to CFD Mountain View on 26 April 2005. Having been built in March 1959 as a CT-133 with original RCAF serial number 21648, it had reached a total of 11394.6 flight hours at the time of its retirement from military use. It has been sold on the civil market, along with fifteen other CT-133s. These aircraft will join the fifty others on the United States Civil Register and continue to fly as a part of the living legacy of the early jet age.[citation needed]

Variants

  • T-33A Silver Star Mk 1: Two-seat jet training aircraft for the RCAF. Built by Lockheed in the United States, 30 on loan to the RCAF.
  • CT-133ANX Silver Star Mk 2: The first Canadian prototype. One built.
  • Silver Star Mk 3: Two-seat jet training aircraft for the RCAF.
    • Silver Star Mk 3PT: Unarmed version.
    • Silver Star Mk 3AT: Armed version, two Browning .50 caliber machine guns in nose and underwing pylons for 1,000 lb bombs and HVAR rockets.[3]
    • Silver Star Mk 3PR: Photo-reconnaissance version.
  • CE-133: Upgraded electronic warfare training aircraft.
  • CX-133: Ejection seat testbed.
  • ET-133: Aerial threat simulator aircraft.
  • TE-133: Anti-ship threat simulator aircraft.

Operators

 Bolivia
 Canada
 France
 Greece
 Portugal
 Turkey

Aircraft on display

The following locations have CT-133 Silver Stars on display or in flyable condition:

T-33 at London International Airport
CT-133 Silver Star displayed in St. Albert, Alberta
Alberta
  • 21081 is near Airdrie, Alberta, in the yard of a private owner.[11]
  • There are approximately 7 CT-133's either on display or in storage at CFB Cold Lake.[11]
  • 21072 is displayed at CFB Edmonton.[11]
  • 21506 and 21533 are in possession of the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton, Alberta.[12]
  • 21097 is mounted on a pylon in Edson, Alberta.[11]
  • 21518 is on display in Leduc, Alberta.[11]
  • 21578 is outside the Royal Canadian Legion in Lethbridge, Alberta.[11]
  • 21272 is on a pylon outside the building of the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Nanton, Alberta.[13]
  • 21437 resides on a pedestal at Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.[11]
  • 21271 is outside the Royal Canadian Legion in St. Albert, Alberta.[11]
  • CT-133 given serial number 133419 is located in Warner, Alberta.[11]
  • 21089 and 21351 are at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.[14]
British Columbia
Manitoba
  • Gimli[17]
  • Winnipeg Air Force Heritage Museum and Park[18]
Nova Scotia
  • Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum[19]
  • Greenwood Military Aviation Museum Greenwood, Nova Scotia[20]
  • Shearwater Aviation Museum[21]
Ontario
Quebec
  • Canadian Forces Base Bagotville[29]
  • Val-d'Or[30]

Saskatchewan

  • 21630 is located near Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan [31]
United Kingdom
  • RAF Manston History Museum, at RAF Manston, Kent, England[32]
  • Yorkshire Air Museum, at RAF Elvington, England[33]

Surviving aircraft

Canada

  • Jet Aircraft Museum – two operational examples[26]
  • Waterloo Warbirds - one operational example[34]

United States

Airworthy
CT-133
  • RCAF s/n 21024 - privately owned in Scottsdale, Arizona.[35]
  • RCAF s/n 21052 (CF s/n 133052) - privately owned in Mobile, Alabama.[36]
  • RCAF s/n 21098 - privately owned in Waller, Texas.[37]
  • RCAF s/n 21129 - privately owned in Salt Lake City, Utah.[38]
  • RCAF s/n 21157 - privately owned in Houston, Texas.[39]
  • RCAF s/n 21159 - privately owned in Belgrade, Montana.[40]
  • RCAF s/n 21165 (CF s/n 133165) - Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.[41][42]
  • RCAF s/n 21192 - privately owned in Guthrie, Oklahoma.[43]
  • RCAF s/n 21298 - operated by Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington.[44]
  • RCAF s/n 21306 - privately owned in San Rafael, California.[45]
  • RCAF s/n 21369 - operated by Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington.[46]
  • RCAF s/n 21375 - privately owned in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[47]
  • RCAF s/n 21377 (CF s/n 133377) - Planes of Fame in Chino, California.[48][49]
  • RCAF s/n 21440 - privately owned in Delanson, New York.[50]
  • RCAF s/n 21456 - privately owned in Brigham City, Utah.[51]
  • RCAF s/n 21467 (CF s/n 133467) - privately owned in Litchfield Park, Arizona.[52]
  • RCAF s/n 21479 (CF s/n 133479) - privately owned in Bulverde, Texas.[53]
  • RCAF s/n 21504 (CF s/n 133504) - privately owned in Scottsdale, Arizona.[54]
  • RCAF s/n 21556 - privately owned in Chicago, Illinois.[55]
  • RCAF s/n 21557 (CF s/n 133557) - privately owned in Mesa, Arizona.[56]
  • RCAF s/n 21559 - privately owned in Parowan, Utah.[57]
  • RCAF s/n 21566 - Tennessee Museum of Aviation in Luttrell, Tennessee.[58][59]
  • RCAF s/n 21579 (CF s/n 133579) - privately owned in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.[60]
  • RCAF s/n 21582 - War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.[61][62]
  • RCAF s/n 21590 (CF s/n 133590) - privately owned in Carson City, Nevada.[63]
  • RCAF s/n 21604 (CF s/n 133604) - privately owned in Jurupa Valley, California.[64]
  • CF s/n 133452 - privately owned in San Rafael, California.[65]
  • CF s/n 133610 - privately owned in San Rafael, California.[66]
  • CF s/n 133564 - privately owned in San Antonio, Texas.[67]
Under restoration
CT-133
  • RCAF s/n 21483 (CF s/n 133483) - to airworthiness by private owner in Houston, Texas.[68]
  • RCAF s/n 21560 (CF s/n 133560) - to airworthiness by private owner in Houston, Texas.[69]
  • RCAF s/n 21571 (CF s/n 133571) - to airworthiness by private owner in Houston, Texas.[70]
  • RCAF s/n 21613 (CF s/n 133613) - to airworthiness by private owner in Ione, California.[71]
  • RCAF s/n 21615 (CF s/n 133615) - to airworthiness by private owner in Jordan Valley, Oregon.[72]
  • CF s/n 133083 - to airworthiness the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation in Anaheim, California.[73]

Specifications (CT-133)

General characteristics

  • Crew: one–two
  • Length: 11.48 m (37 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 12.93 m (42 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
  • Empty weight: 3,830 kg (8,444 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,630 kg (16,800 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet, 22 kN (5,000 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 920 km/h (570 mph, 500 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 m (46,000 ft)

See also

Related development

Related lists

  • List of military aircraft of Canada

References

Notes
  1. Joe Baugher. "Lockheed TP-80C/TF-80C/T-33A". att.net. http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p80_10.html. 
  2. see also "Canada's Fab Four", Air Forces Monthly
  3. Upton, Bill. "Canadair CL-30 / T-33AN Silver Star Mk 3 RCAF Red Knight Serial 21574". Canadian Aviation Museum Aircraft. https://documents.techno-science.ca/documents/CASM-Aircrafthistories-CanadairCL-30SilverStar.pdf. 
  4. Andrade 1982, p. 27
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Aeroware (n.d.). "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star". http://www.canadianwings.com/Aircraft/aircraftDetail.php?SILVERSTAR-198. 
  6. National Research Council (13 February 2009). "T-33". http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/facilities/iar/t-33.html. 
  7. Jackson, Paul A. (1975). French Military Aviation. Hinckley, England: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-01-6. 
  8. Andrade 1982, p. 92
  9. Andrade 1982, p. 185
  10. Andrade 1982, p. 228
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 "Harold A. Skaarup Web page". http://silverhawkauthor.com/aircraft-preserved-in-canada-2-warplanes-in-alberta_393.html. 
  12. "Harold A. Skaarup Web page". http://silverhawkauthor.com/aircraft-preserved-in-canada-2-warplanes-in-alberta-edmonton-alberta-aviation-museum_635.html. 
  13. "Harold A. Skaarup Web page". http://silverhawkauthor.com/aircraft-preserved-in-canada-2-warplanes-in-alberta-nanton-national-bomber-command-air-museum_631.html. 
  14. "Harold A. Skaarup Web page". http://silverhawkauthor.com/warplanes-2-alberta-wetaskiwin-reynoldsalberta-museum_636.html. 
  15. "Lockheed T-33 Silver Star | The Canadian Museum of Flight". Canadianflight.org. http://www.canadianflight.org/content/lockheed-t-33-silver-star. 
  16. "Comox Air Force Museum Silver Star". Comoxairforcemuseum.ca. 13 September 1951. http://www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca/AirPark/silverstar.html. 
  17. "Gimli's historic plane monument grounded for repairs". cbc.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/gimli-historic-fighter-jet-monumenr-repairs-1.3738222. 
  18. http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/airforceheritagemuseum.shtml Air Force Heritage Museum, retrieved 31 July 2017
  19. "Lockheed / Canadair CT-133 Silver Star " Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum". Atlanticcanadaaviationmuseum.com. 22 March 1948. http://atlanticcanadaaviationmuseum.com/museum-collections/lockheed-canadair-ct-133-silver-star/. 
  20. Greenwood Military Aviation Museum (2015). "Collections". http://www.gmam.ca/collections-1.html. 
  21. "Shearwater Aviation Museum". Shearwater Aviation Museum. http://www.shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca/exhibits/silverstar.htm. 
  22. "Canadian Air & Space Museum | Canadair CT-133 Silver Star". Casmuseum.org. 18 September 2003. http://www.casmuseum.org/canadair_ct133_silver_star.php. 
  23. "Canadair T-33AN Silver Star 3 – Canada Aviation and Space Museum". Aviation.technomuses.ca. http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/CanadairT-33ANSilverStar/. 
  24. "Canadian Historical Aircraft Association". Ch2a.ca. http://www.ch2a.ca/MainWelcome.html. 
  25. "Aircraft Details". http://https/:www.warplane.com/aircraft/collection/details.aspx?aircraftId=27. [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
  26. 26.0 26.1 "Our Aircraft". Jetaircraftmuseum.ca. https://webmaster8001.wixsite.com/jetaircraftmuseum/our-collection. 
  27. London International Airport (2011). "Historical Display". http://www.londonairport.on.ca/hisdisplay.html. 
  28. "Aircraft " National Air Force Museum of Canada". Airforcemuseum.ca. http://airforcemuseum.ca/en/aircraft-2#S. 
  29. canadienne, Gouvernement du Canada, Défense nationale, Aviation royale. "Histoire - 3e Escadre Bagotville - Aviation royale canadienne". http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/fr/3-escadre/histoire.page. 
  30. Base militaire de Val-d'Or 1976 , retrieved 8 May 2018
  31. "CASPIR Lockheed Silver Star" (in en). https://caspir.warplane.com/asrc/acn/200000458/. 
  32. "Canadair CT-133AN Silver Star 3, G-BYOY, RAF Manston History Museum". abpic.co.uk. http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1339356/. 
  33. "Aircraft 21417 (Canadair CT-133 Silver Star 3 C/N T33-417) Photo by Terry Fletcher (Photo ID: AC466642)". airport-data.com. http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/466642.html. 
  34. "Waterloo Warbirds". https://waterloowarbirds.com/products/t-33-mako-shark-jet-flight. 
  35. "FAA Registry: N230CF." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  36. "FAA Registry: N133CN." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  37. "FAA Registry: N133CR." faa.gov. Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  38. "FAA Registry: N84TB." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  39. "FAA Registry: N133AT." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  40. "FAA Registry: N305FS." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  41. "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21165." Vintage Flying Museum. Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  42. "FAA Registry: N165KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  43. "FAA Registry: N133C." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  44. "FAA Registry: N109X." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  45. "FAA Registry: N933GC." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  46. "FAA Registry: N416X." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  47. "FAA Registry: N33HW." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  48. "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21377." Planes of Fame. Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  49. "FAA Registry: N377JP." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  50. "FAA Registry: N12417." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  51. "FAA Registry: N333MJ." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  52. "FAA Registry: N467AV." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  53. "FAA Registry: N479KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  54. "FAA Registry: N993SC." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  55. "FAA Registry: N133KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  56. "FAA Registry: N99175." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  57. "FAA Registry: N83TB."faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  58. "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21566." Tennessee Museum of Aviation. Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  59. "FAA Registry: N307FS." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  60. "FAA Registry: N433RD." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  61. "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21582." War Eagles Air Museum. Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  62. "FAA Registry: N92JB." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  63. "FAA Registry: N590RC." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  64. "FAA Registry: N604KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  65. "FAA Registry: N133HH." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  66. "FAA Registry: N133DV." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  67. "FAA Registry: N134EM." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  68. "FAA Registry: N483KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  69. "FAA Registry: N560KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  70. "FAA Registry: N571KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  71. "FAA Registry: N613RC." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  72. "FAA Registry: N615RC." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
  73. "FAA Registry: N84KK." faa.gov Retrieved: 23 August 2021.
Bibliography
  • "Canada's Fab Four". Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Limited, August 2003. ISSN 0955-7091.
  • Flight Comment: The Canadian Forces Flight Safety Magazine. Ottawa: Publishing and Depository Services, Summer 2005. ISSN 0015-3702, .
  • Andrade, John: Militair 1982. London: 1982. ISBN:0-907898-01-7
  • Francillon, René. Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN:0-370-30329-6.
  • Pickler, Ron and Larry Milberry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: Canav Books, 1995. ISBN:0-921022-07-7.
  • "Silver Star Stand Down". Air Classics April 2006, Canoga Park, California: Challenge Publications. ISSN 0002-2241.

External links