U.S.A.A.F. RESOURCE CENTER > POST WAR: 1946-1960 > PREVIOUS PAGE
|
Type: High-altitude Interceptor Origin: Lockheed Crew: One Model: XF-80, XF-80A, YF-80A, F-80A XF-80B, F-80B, F-80C First Flight: January 8, 1944 Production: 1,731 XF-80: 1 XF-80A: 3 YF-80A: 13 F-80A: 917 XF-80B: 1 (converted) F-80B:240 (converted from P-80A) F-80C:798 POWERPLANT: F-80C Model: Allison J33 Type: Turbojet Number: One Horsepower: 5,400 hp* * with water-alcohol injection.  |
DIMENSIONS: F-80C Wing span: 38 ft. 10½ in. Length: 34ft. 6 in. Height: 11 ft. 4 in. Wing Surface Area: N/A WEIGHTS: F-80C Empty: N/A Loaded: N/A Maximum Loaded: 16,856 lb. PERFORMANCE: F-80C Maximum Speed: 580 mph Cruising Speed: 437 mph Initial Climb Rate: N/A Time to 20,000ft: N/A Service Ceiling: 46,800 ft. Absolute Ceiling: N/A Normal Range: 1,090 miles ARMAMENT: Six .50 in. Browning machine guns Ammunition: N/A BOMB LOAD: Eight 5 in. rockets or 2,000 lbs. bombs. |
The P-80 was the first American built jet aircraft that was produced in large quantities and was the first USAF aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight. Designed during WWII but arriving too late to see combat, the P-80 eventually saw combat in the Korean conflict. Redesignated F-80 in 1948, the F-80C saw extensive use in the low-level strike fighter role utilizing rockets, bombs and napalm. On Nov. 8, 1950 the F-80 reasserted its Interceptor roots and a Shooting Star flown by Lt. Russell J. Brown of the 16th FIS successfully engaged in the worlds first jet on jet combat, downing a Russian-built Mig-15.
USAFM, Wright Patterson AFB
U.S.A.A.F. RESOURCE CENTER > POST WAR: 1946-1960 > PREVIOUS PAGE