This is a small tribute to what was in my opinion a great fighter that never got the respect it deserved. It fought through three long years of war in Korea, shooting down nearly 40 enemy aircraft and incurring very few air-to-air losses of its own. It spawned off a hugely succesful trainer as well as the USAF’s first radar & afterburner equipped jet interceptor. It was a pilot’s airplane, with agility, a bubble canopy, a nose packed with machine guns, and a huge load of weapons under the wings. It was the aircraft that brought the jet age to the United States Air Force and came out the victor in the world’s first jet-to-jet air battle in late 1950. This is my tribute to the F-80 Shooting Star. If anyone else has any photos or comments I urge you to post so we can remember this great aircraft. It still lives in spirit certainly, and with the numerous T-33’s around the world still flying we can still see a part of it.
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By: Arabella-Cox - 13th September 2002 at 11:31
RE: F-80 Tribute
Presumably…
F80 – specifically designed as a fighter.
T33 – basic F80 airframe adapted / redesigned at factory stage to two seat trainer configuration.
Although as I’m not a jettie, I could be wrong.
By: geedee - 12th September 2002 at 18:55
RE: F-80 Tribute
Wasnt there an all black one with a knights head in white on its nose…owned by the late Ormond Haydon-Baillie sometime back in the mid seventy’s ?.
Hang on, cancel that last bit, the Black Knight was a T33. Whats the difference between the two ?
Cheers
Gary
By: Ant.H - 12th September 2002 at 18:06
RE: F-80 Tribute
Thanks Phantom,interesting pictures!
I’d agree with you that the P/F80 and it’s pilots don’t get the recognition they deserve,particularly the recce guys in Korea.As far as I know,there are no airworthy F80’s in the world today,and I find that pretty surprising considering the importance of the type and the capability of the US/worldwide warbird industry.Do you know of any plans to restore an airworthy example?With all these T33’s about,it might be logical to convert one to F80 status.Would this be possible?
I can’t help noticing the XF95 Goblin and the B36 Peacemaker in the background of the fourth pic.Where was it taken,the USAF Museum?
Thanks again for the pictures 🙂
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September 12, 2002 at 6:36 am