The P-80 'Shooting Star' was a subsonic jet fighter used by the US Air Force during the Cold War. It was designed by engineer Clarence Johnson and manufactured by Lockheed. Its prototype maiden flight took place in June 1944; it was the XP-80A, the 'Lulu Belle', flown by test pilot Tony LeVier.
After many test flights, it entered service in September 1945. Thus, it was the pioneer jet aircraft in the arsenal of the American air force. By 1950, more than 1,400 Shooting Stars had been produced, seeing extensive combat action in the Korean War, especially engaging in dog-fight the Soviet MiG-15 fighter. This versatile aircraft would be deployed world-wide, from the US military bases in West Germany to South Korea.
below, a P-80B flying in the skies over the State of Colorado
Technical Characteristics
The Lockheed P-80 was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane, whose fuselage was all-metal, semi-monocoque. It was fitted with straight low-wing, which tapered laterally towards their tips. This type of wing made the Shooting Star a very maneuverable aircraft.
The Shooting Star was equipped with retractable landing gear and it was powered by one Allison J33-A-35 turbojet engine. However, the prototype was driven by one General Electric I-40 turbojet. The P-80B variant was equipped with an ejection seat.
Armament
It was armed with six 12.7-mm (.50) machine guns; eight 127-mm rockets; and two 450-kg bombs.
Specifications
Type: fighter
Length: 10.49 m
Wingspan: 11.8 m
Wing Area: 22 sq. meter
Height: 3.4 m
Maximum Speed: 957 km/h (595 mph)
Range: 1,328 km (825 miles).
Below, two P-80s flying in the skies over West Germany, in the late 1940s.
The cockpit of the Shooting Star.
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