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ISSUE 62 - April 2009
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SHOOT FOR THE STARS

By Kevin Moore, Contributing Editor & Photographer
Roslin, Ontario, Canada

T-33 #573 sitting on the tarmac at CFB Mountain View after it’s run-ups were completed.

In the post-war era jet aircraft were still in their infancy and development, though progressing well, had not completely taken the place of piston engine aircraft. The spitfire, mustang, gannet, and sky raider, among many others, all flew well into the 1960s and 1970s but jets were getting faster and more advanced and soon, propeller driven fighters were relegated to tasks such as training, target-towing and even target aircraft.

A photo taken of a retired training T-33 after it’s final flight into CFB Mountain View, summer 1984.

Early jet trainers and fighters had many successes and many failures. One of the most successful jet aircraft was the American designed Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, which made its first flight in 1948. Derived from the single seat version, the F-80, this two-seat fighter-trainer became the mainstay of the USAAF jet pilot training well into the 1970s.

On the left, retired but newly purchased T-33’s sit out the cold, snowy days of winter awaiting their pilots who will take them to their new homes. Two of JAM’s aircraft, T-33 #346 on the left, and #573, sitting on the snow-covered tarmac at Mountain View after their run-ups, right.

The Royal Canadian Air Force also flew a version of the Shooting Star, however, the airplane was built in Canada by Canadair and was known as the CT-133 Silver Star. The RCAF T-33’s, also affectionately known as T-birds, were a favourite amongst pilots, even today some 20+ years after they were retired from service.

Covered in snow, the mainstay of the Canadian Airforce’s aerobatic display team Snowbirds, the Canadair Tutor. With no hangars left for storage, the airplanes sit out in the weather until such time as either the complete airplane is needed as a replacement or parts are stripped to keep others flying.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, many old RCAF and CAF airplanes such as the CF-100 Avro Canuck, CF-101 Voodoo, and the T-birds, to name but a few, were flown into CFB Mountain View, about 10 miles south of CFB Trenton (home of Canadian Air Force 8 Wing). Dozens of these old birds were put in storage for years inside vintage World War II hangars. Some were stripped and used as parts airplanes. Some were dismantled, cut-up and sold for scrap metal value. Some were dismantled and packed away for possible future use. Some were stored as they were, covered, engines inhibited, and were all but forgotten.

RCAF Avro Canuck, CF-100’s sitting on the tarmac at Mountain View in 1983/84 before being scrapped, left. A Canadian Air Force Voodoo after its final flight into Mountain View in 1983. The aircraft was put into storage and eventually scrapped.

The base was built during World War II for the BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan) and the original hangars were in a poor state of repairs. Since the mid 1980s, and throughout the past twenty years, most have been demolished leaving the aircraft outside, exposed to the elements. Thankfully, interest in purchasing some of the old jets stored at Mountain View grew and collectors from the USA and Canada snapped up close to 20 of the old T-birds.

T-33 #573 at rest in front of stored Tutors, left. T-bird #346 sitting, cockpit canopy open, after her run-ups earlier that morning.

One such group calls itself the Jet Aircraft Museum, The T-33 Group of Canada or JAM for short. Affiliated with the CHAA (Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association) based out of Tillsonburg, Ontario, JAM has purchased six T-birds for the museum which is located in London, Ontario. Eventually, all six aircraft will make their way to London once restorations are completed and they’re ready to fly.

Recently, on a cold winter’s day in January with a morning temperature of –18C/-5F, several members of JAM made their way to Mountain View from all parts of Canada and even the USA, to do some last minute tinkering on three of their T-33s. The hope was to be able to fly at least one of the T-birds out of Mountain View and off to London, Ontario.

Awaiting a trip to the flightline for her run-ups, #573 sits in glow of the morning sun on a bitterly cold winter morning, left. Being trucked out for run-ups by the ‘ground crew’ techies, right.

Airplanes were rolled out of one of the last two remaining old hangars first thing for run-ups, checks, and taxi tests before making any flights. T-33 #573 was the first trucked into position and pilots Turbo Tarling and Larry Ricker, former RCAF/CAF T-33 pilots, took their positions in the cockpit, ran through their pre-start checklists, and with the assistance of ground support technicians, started up. After full power run-ups and checks and re-checks, #573 was signed off as ‘good to go.’

Pilots Larry Ricker and Turbo Tarling readying themselves in the cockpit of T-33 #500 before start-up, left. One of the ground technicians on the wing assisting with preparations for run-ups, right.

Turbo Tarling, more than 25 years retired from the Canadian military, finds his home in Cold Lake, Alberta. An accomplished military pilot with 7655 hours on type, Turbo is also known for his impressive photo of a Canadian CF-101 Voodoo he shot from his own Voodoo in an afterburner take-off when only feet off the ground. Larry Ricker, who flew the T-33 as a reserve member of the Canadian military (756 hours on type) and who is currently an airline pilot on the 767-300 and Captain flying with Air Canada, resides in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Turbo Tarling descending the aircraft ladder, left. Larry Ricker in the cockpit during run-ups on #500, right.

Then T-33s #500 and #346 were also put through their ground run-up paces and, apart from a few minor snags, were also signed off as good to go. Unfortunately, lack of co-operation from certain folks meant that a recent dumping of approximately 10” of snow was not cleared from the old runway and so, though a perfect flying day, the airplanes were pushed back into their hangar to await another suitable flying day …..and for cleared runways.

Running checks from the manual, Ricker runs through a checklist while Tarling does the same from the back seat, to ensure the aircraft is ready to go, left. Jet exhaust billows from the rear nozzle during full power run-ups, right.

Departure days have now been tentatively set for sometime in April 2009 for the above 3 T-birds as well as two American owned aircraft. Soon enough, these wonderful old jet aircraft will again take to the skies. In the follow-up story, we’ll delve more into the preparation of the aircraft to get them to flying readiness and where the next instalment of their flying days will take them.

After run-ups and checks are completed, the airplanes are returned to the hangar until the runways are ready for take-off, hopefully some time in April.

For more information on the Jet Aircraft Museum:
www.jetaircraftmuseum.ca

For more information on the T-33:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-33_Shooting_Star#Survivors

To have a look at Turbo Tarling’s Voodoo photo:
http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/images/historic_gallery/wallpaper/voodooa29.jpg

Larry and Turbo discussing the days events in the warmth of the hangar, left. In the air, the T-33's tip-tanks look fairly sleek but, on the ground, they’re actually fairly large and bulky holding 192 imperial gallons (229 US gal.) of jet fuel each, right.

 

At full power blowing the fresh fallen powder 60 feet or more and melting what doesn’t blow away, left. The pilots sitting cozy and warm in the cockpit during run-ups and checks, right.

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