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  1. Copilot Answer
    The T-33: America's First Jet Trainer
    The T-33: America's First Jet Trainer
    In 1948, Lockheed introduced a new jet trainer that would become one of the most successful and widely used aircraft of its kind. It was the T-33 Shooting Star, or T-Bird, a two-seat version of the P-80 fighter jet.
    Design and development

    The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 by lengthening the fuselage by slightly more than 3 feet (1 m) and adding a second seat, instrumentation, and flight controls. It was initially designated as a variant of t… See more

    Operational history

    The two-place T-33 proved suitable as an advanced trainer, and it has been used for such tasks as drone director and target towing. A reconnaissance version known as the RT-33A with a camera installed in the nose and a… See more

    Variants

    TP-80C Original United States military designation for the Lockheed Model 580 two-seat trainer for the United States Army Air Forces. Designation changed to TF-80C on 11 June 1948 following establishment of the United … See more

    Former operators

    For operators of Canadian-built aircraft, refer to Canadair CT-133 Silver Star.
    Bangladesh
    • Bangladesh Air Force (1 × RT-33 operated from 1972. Leftover of Pakistan Air Force after … See more