Lockheed T-33

I flew the T-33 at Webb AFB, TX(Big Spring), class 62-H in 1961-62. I loved the T-BIRD. I thought it was an excellent trainer. I flew the last student sortie with my IP at Webb in the T-33 (May 1962) as the T-38 was taking over in basic training.

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Glad to see I wasn't the only one who took a T-33A to 50,000... course damned near flamed out for lack of fuel before I got it on the ground. (Needed to be light to get it up there.)
Read in Dash-1 it only took about 10 gallons of fuel from 50,000 to sea level if dive made at idle, speed brakes out, and on the mach. So I left up there with less than minimum fuel. Got to pattern altitude with still enough fuel for no-sweat pattern... until the entire aircraft became frosted over with the moisture below and a super-cooled bird. Couldn't see out of cockpit, defrosters not that good on that bird, and not enough fuel for GCA on instruments. Some very serious scratching on canopy cleared area big enough to see to land flying somewhat sideways. Flamed out in parking area. I thanked Good Man Upstairs for helping a stupid young pilot.
Flew the bird for over 2,500 and have a lot of stories in it. Like landing in zero-zero fog after missed approach and not enough fuel to go to alternate (which was also below minimums). Took tug 45 minutes to find the bird on the runway as it was too foggy to taxi in. Great forgiving bird. It, the F-84F and the little A-37 fighter were my favorite birds.

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Reference George Ioos question about the fuel capacity of the T-33. It was 813 gallons.

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I was stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB, 1968 trough 1972. I was assigned to the Air National Guard initially, and worked on F100's. I then was trnsferred to the Teeny Tiger Squadron and was a crewchief on the T33A aircraft. My plane was number 321. My Pilot was Col. Harper, the Base Commander at the time. I was assigned to rewrite parts of the Maintenance Manual for the T33. I have some very good memories of my time there, both on base and down at the beach.

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I`m a flight controller on my country,Brazil.Since the my early years I live in contact with aviation.I LOVE ALL ABOUT AVIATION!!!!!!!
I flew some military fighter missions,it`s fantastic the feeling.

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As a 1LT, I flew T-33 and AT-33 out of Myrtle Beach AFB, AFB in the early 70's. I was one of the last pilots of the 3320 Tactical Air Support Trainin Sq. I flew a number of these fine A /C to the boneyard at D-M AFB, AZ and one AT to a Guard unit in Salt Lake City. It was a great jet to begin a USAF Career in and it got me home more than once. I have the dubious distincition of flying one from Shaw SC to Houston TX unrefueled. The engine was running until I shut it down about 100yds away from parking. I coasted to a stop in the proper place. The fuel truck recorded it put 830 gallon into a plane that held 814. I knew it was close but didn't think I owed it any fuel! When you flew a t-bird,you actually flew an airplane.

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CC on 53-5021, Langley Field, 1958-59 for 836 CC, BG Perry Griffith, Aid was capt. Charles Woods. Tough old airplane, tough old General but enjoyed the tour, moved to Lockbourne and continued on T-33's. One of the T-33's I worked on I run across years later in Iceland. My name was still in the old Inventory records. Great Aircraft for training, forgiving and would bring you home. Thanks Lockheed.

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As an ROTC student at East Texas State U.... the Cadet of the Month got to ride in the T-33. It was a race track pattern for a couple of hours while other planes used it as a radar target. When that was done, there was usually a few minutes to see show the kid what this baby could do.... every student came away with a memory to last a life time.

Our ROTC Instructor, Capt. Craton as I remember, was killed in a T-33 crash while on a night training mission there in North Texas. It was my first year of college. 1965-66.

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I am involved in maintenance for a CAF T-33 and am inerested in obtaining inspection work cards for the T-33. Does anyone know where I can find some?

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I'm happy to see real T-33 vets out here posting their memories about this wonderful airplane. I currently crew two of these airplanes to this day, and love the relative ease of maintenance these airplanes offer. I say relative because if it were all easy, it couldnt be an airplane! (I've been E&E on the A-10; F-16AB,CD,CGDG,CJDJ; KC-135E,R for the USAFR&ANG, and privately employed as CC on the CT-133 (T-33.) I have some back seat time and hope to own one of these pieces of history one day. This acft is built like a tank thanks to the sturdy wing spars and I can see these airplanes flying well past 8000hrs. The T-33's flying todays air shows are generally privately owned and funded by their owner /pilots. If you veteran pilots or maintainers see a t-bird at an airshow and see its CC or pilot /owner, feel free to stop by and tell us your story, we would apprediate it.

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George,

Total fuel was 813 gallons (US); 230 in each tip tank.

Crewed them from 67 - 70 and then again from 73 to late 75.

Like Przybylski, I was at GFAFB, ND. Then, again, in SCANG at McEntire ANGB, SC.

Have accrued about 16 hours in the backseat. Delightful acft to crew and fly in.

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I was t-33 crew chief in the Air Force from 1967-1970 at Clark Air Base Phillippians and Grand Forks AFB North Dakota.18 FIS ADC in N.D was the best. Loved the A /C helped me decide I wanted to work on A /C when I got out. Remember how easy the engine was to get out but don't drop hardware in the engine screen! (Looking for 18 FIS T-Bird Section Chief Richard Burdick)

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I have a "T-Bird Tailender" certificate signed by Tony Lavier. I was a student in the last class (64G) trained in T-Birds at Vance AFB. The next class, 64H flew the first T-38s there.

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Flew T-birds at Greenville, MS and Big Springs, TX in 55U and 56A in single engine basic. Later at "Fighter Ops" at Tyndall AFB for a total of about 1000 hours '54 to '58 plus some more at Moody towing targets after passing on F86D instructors billet to return to dental school. Some great memories!

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First flew at Williams AFB. Class 56K. Great aircraft. Fun to fly in formation and instruments. Those were the days.

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Worked on T33's for years in the USAF. Great aircraft to fly and to work on. A real work horse. Flew some rear seat and loved every minute. Later in the army, got to fly helicopters in VN. Loved that T33 though.

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Trained in T-33 at Laredo AFB, class 55-L. Afterwards flew at Tyndall AFB. I don't remember the fuel capacity. can anyone tell me? Thanks.

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Trained in the T33 at Bryan AFB 1955-56. Graduated class 56-H and continued AF career as T-Bird Instructor at Bryan and Craig AFB till 1963. With fellow IP, cruise climbed one to 50,000 ft. No way to verify but Don Minihan was the other IP. More than 2000 hrs in it, were every bit as pleasurable and exciting as later 1000 hrs. in the F100.

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I spent three and a half years at Tyndall AFB, Florida from '76 to '80 as an avionics tech, working the T-33A primarily, along with the F-101B /F and F-106A /B interceptors. Working on T-birds was like being a mechanic trained on Vettes but working on VW Bugs! I crosstrained on electrical, engine and hydraulic systems and served as crewchief, we T-bird techs did it all! :-)
I loved those birds. Sad to see them gone.

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I READ AN ACCOUNT OF THE DEBACLE AT THE BAY OF PIGS(1961).
THE AUTHOR WROTE THAT CASTRO HAD T-33'S AT HIS DISPOSAL
AND RIGGED THEM WITH M-60 MACINEGUNS TO FIRE AT INVADERS
AND B26'S FLOWN BY INVASION FORCES. IS THIS TRUE?
I FLEW IN THEM AT CORPUS CHRISTI NAS IN 1966 WHEN I WAS IN\\
NROTC. THEY WERE CALLED TEENIE WEENIES AND A LOT OF FUN.

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