Canadair CT-133 Silver Star explained

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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

• Bolivian Air Force – 20 AT-33A-Ns (former Canadian Forces)^[4]

• Royal Canadian Air Force^[5]
  • Red Knight (aerobatic team)
• Royal Canadian Navy
• Canadian Forces
• National Research Council^[6]

• French Air Force delivered between 1959 and 1962^[7]

• Hellenic Air Force (former RCAF aircraft)^[8]

• Portuguese Air Force^[9]

• Turkish Air Force^[10]

Aircraft on display

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

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]
• CX-133 133413 is on display at The Military Museums, in Calgary, Alberta, restored as a CT-133 Mk 3. ^{[15] [16]}

British Columbia

• Canadian Museum of Flight^[17]
• Comox Air Force Museum^[18]
• Princeton Airport

Manitoba

• Gimli^[19]
• Winnipeg Air Force Heritage Museum and Park^[20]

Nova Scotia

• Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum^[21]
• Greenwood Military Aviation Museum Greenwood, Nova Scotia^[22]
• Shearwater Aviation Museum^[23]

Ontario

• Canadian Air and Space Museum^[24]
• Canada Aviation Museum^[25]
• Canadian Historical Aircraft Association^[26]
• Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum^[27]
• Fort Erie - Sugarbowl Park
• Jet Aircraft Museum – two operational examples^[28]
• London International Airport^[29]
• National Air Force Museum of Canada^[30]

Quebec

• s/n 133333, Canadian Forces Base Bagotville^[31]
• s/n 133267, Val-d'Or^[32]

Saskatchewan

• 21630 is located near Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan^[33]

United Kingdom

• RAF Manston History Museum, at RAF Manston, Kent, England^[34]
• Yorkshire Air Museum, at RAF Elvington, England^[35]

Surviving aircraft

Canada

• Jet Aircraft Museum – two operational examples^[28]
• Waterloo Warbirds - one operational example^[36]

United States

Airworthy

CT-133

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

Under restoration

CT-133

• RCAF s/n 21483 (CF s/n 133483) - to airworthiness by private owner in Houston, Texas.^[70]
• RCAF s/n 21560 (CF s/n 133560) - to airworthiness by private owner in Houston, Texas.^[71]
• RCAF s/n 21571 (CF s/n 133571) - to airworthiness by private owner in Houston, Texas.^[72]
• RCAF s/n 21613 (CF s/n 133613) - to airworthiness by private owner in Ione, California.^[73]
• RCAF s/n 21615 (CF s/n 133615) - to airworthiness by private owner in Jordan Valley, Oregon.^[74]
• CF s/n 133083 - to airworthiness the Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation in Anaheim, California.^[75]

References

Notes

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.
• Francillon, René. Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. .
• Pickler, Ron and Larry Milberry. Canadair: The First 50 Years. Toronto: Canav Books, 1995. .
• "Silver Star Stand Down". Air Classics April 2006, Canoga Park, California: Challenge Publications. ISSN 0002-2241.

External links

• Canadian Forces CT-133 Silver Star page

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lockheed TP-80C/TF-80C/T-33A. Joe Baugher. att.net. 11 July 2017. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20080519120909/http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p80_10.html. 19 May 2008.
2. see also "Canada's Fab Four", Air Forces Monthly
3. Web site: Canadair CL-30 / T-33AN Silver Star Mk 3 RCAF Red Knight Serial 21574. 18 October 2022. Upton. Bill. Canadian Aviation Museum Aircraft. 9 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220409204019/https://documents.techno-science.ca/documents/CASM-Aircrafthistories-CanadairCL-30SilverStar.pdf. dead.
4. Andrade 1982, p. 27
5. Web site: Canadair CT-133 Silver Star. 8 January 2012. Aeroware. n.d..
6. Web site: T-33. 8 January 2012. National Research Council. National Research Council (Canada). 13 February 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120629054503/http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/facilities/iar/t-33.html. 29 June 2012.
7. Book: Jackson, Paul A.. French Military Aviation. 1975. Midland Counties Publications. Hinckley, England. 0-904597-01-6.
8. Andrade 1982, p. 92
9. Andrade 1982, p. 185
10. Andrade 1982, p. 228
11. Web site: Harold A. Skaarup Web page. silverhawkauthor.com. 22 August 2019. 3 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190903104357/http://silverhawkauthor.com/aircraft-preserved-in-canada-2-warplanes-in-alberta_393.html. dead.
12. Web site: Harold A. Skaarup Web page. silverhawkauthor.com. 22 August 2019. 13 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913170419/http://silverhawkauthor.com/aircraft-preserved-in-canada-2-warplanes-in-alberta-edmonton-alberta-aviation-museum_635.html. dead.
13. Web site: Harold A. Skaarup Web page. silverhawkauthor.com. 22 August 2019. 13 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913170615/http://silverhawkauthor.com/aircraft-preserved-in-canada-2-warplanes-in-alberta-nanton-national-bomber-command-air-museum_631.html. dead.
14. Web site: Harold A. Skaarup Web page. silverhawkauthor.com. 23 August 2019. 22 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190822183916/http://silverhawkauthor.com/warplanes-2-alberta-wetaskiwin-reynoldsalberta-museum_636.html. dead.
15. Web site: Additional Cold War planes will be on display at the AFMSA. . 2024-04-19 . The Military Museums . en.
16. News: Kaufmann . Bill . September 7, 2022 . Cold War aircraft lands at Calgary museum . April 18, 2024 . Calgary Herald.
17. Web site: Lockheed T-33 Silver Star | The Canadian Museum of Flight. Canadianflight.org. 13 February 2013.
18. Web site: Comox Air Force Museum Silver Star. Comoxairforcemuseum.ca. 13 September 1951. 13 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20030814155512/http://www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca/airpark/silverstar.html. 14 August 2003.
19. Web site: Gimli's historic plane monument grounded for repairs. cbc.ca. 5 November 2016.
20. http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/airforceheritagemuseum.shtml Air Force Heritage Museum, retrieved 31 July 2017
21. Web site: Lockheed / Canadair CT-133 Silver Star " Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum. Atlanticcanadaaviationmuseum.com. 22 March 1948. 13 February 2013. 7 April 2013. https://archive.today/20130407180358/http://atlanticcanadaaviationmuseum.com/museum-collections/lockheed-canadair-ct-133-silver-star/. dead.
22. Web site: Collections. 17 August 2015. Greenwood Military Aviation Museum. 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150511124749/http://www.gmam.ca/collections-1.html. 11 May 2015. dmy-all. Greenwood Military Aviation Museum.
23. Web site: Shearwater Aviation Museum. Shearwater Aviation Museum. 13 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103191520/http://www.shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca/exhibits/silverstar.htm. 3 November 2013.
24. Web site: Canadian Air & Space Museum | Canadair CT-133 Silver Star. Casmuseum.org. 18 September 2003. 13 February 2013.
25. Web site: Canadair T-33AN Silver Star 3 – Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Aviation.technomuses.ca. 13 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016233859/http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/CanadairT-33ANSilverStar/. 16 October 2013. dead.
26. Web site: Canadian Historical Aircraft Association. Ch2a.ca. 13 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101014183047/http://www.ch2a.ca/MainWelcome.html. 14 October 2010.
27. Web site: Aircraft Details. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.
28. Web site: Our Aircraft. Jetaircraftmuseum.ca. 9 December 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209202545/https://webmaster8001.wixsite.com/jetaircraftmuseum/our-collection. 9 December 2019.
29. Web site: Historical Display. 11 November 2011. London International Airport. London International Airport. 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111104051518/http://www.londonairport.on.ca/hisdisplay.html. 4 November 2011.
30. Web site: Aircraft " National Air Force Museum of Canada. Airforcemuseum.ca. 13 February 2013.
31. Web site: Histoire - 3e Escadre Bagotville - Aviation royale canadienne. Gouvernement du Canada, Défense nationale, Aviation royale. canadienne. www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. 9 May 2018.
32. http://biblio.uqat.ca/souvenances/Galerie/Le%20developpement%20economique%20et%20social/Histoire%20de%20Val-d%20Or/slides/060.html Base militaire de Val-d'Or 1976
33. Web site: CASPIR Lockheed Silver Star . 2024-01-29 . caspir.warplane.com . en.
34. Web site: Canadair CT-133AN Silver Star 3, G-BYOY, RAF Manston History Museum. abpic.co.uk. 5 November 2016.
35. Web site: Aircraft 21417 (Canadair CT-133 Silver Star 3 C/N T33-417) Photo by Terry Fletcher (Photo ID: AC466642). airport-data.com. 5 November 2016.
36. Web site: Waterloo Warbirds . Waterloo Warbirds . 11 November 2021.
37. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=230CF "FAA Registry: N230CF."
38. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=133CN "FAA Registry: N133CN."
39. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=133CR "FAA Registry: N133CR."
40. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=84TB "FAA Registry: N84TB."
41. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=133AT "FAA Registry: N133AT."
42. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=305FS "FAA Registry: N305FS."
43. http://www.vintageflyingmuseum.org/on-display/t-33-shooting-star/ "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21165."
44. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=165KK "FAA Registry: N165KK."
45. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=133C "FAA Registry: N133C."
46. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=109X "FAA Registry: N109X."
47. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=933GC "FAA Registry: N933GC."
48. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=416X "FAA Registry: N416X."
49. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=33HW "FAA Registry: N33HW."
50. https://planesoffame.org/aircraft/plane-CT-33 "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21377."
51. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=377JP "FAA Registry: N377JP."
52. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=12417 "FAA Registry: N12417."
53. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=333MJ "FAA Registry: N333MJ."
54. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=467AV "FAA Registry: N467AV."
55. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=479KK "FAA Registry: N479KK."
56. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=993SC "FAA Registry: N993SC."
57. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=133KK "FAA Registry: N133KK."
58. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=99175 "FAA Registry: N99175."
59. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=83TB "FAA Registry: N83TB."
60. https://www.tnairmuseum.com/museum-aircraft/ "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21566."
61. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=307FS "FAA Registry: N307FS."
62. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=433RD "FAA Registry: N433RD."
63. http://www.war-eagles-air-museum.com/exhibit.php?id=22 "Canadair CT-133 Silver Star/21582."
64. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=92JB "FAA Registry: N92JB."
65. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=590RC "FAA Registry: N590RC."
66. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=604KK "FAA Registry: N604KK."
67. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=133HH "FAA Registry: N133HH."
68. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=133DV "FAA Registry: N133DV."
69. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=134EM "FAA Registry: N134EM."
70. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=483KK "FAA Registry: N483KK."
71. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=560KK "FAA Registry: N560KK."
72. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=571KK "FAA Registry: N571KK."
73. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=613RC "FAA Registry: N613RC."
74. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=615RC "FAA Registry: N615RC."
75. https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=84KK "FAA Registry: N84KK."