Lockheed T-33 “Shooting Star” – Shooting Star

Assembling the model is incredibly simple. There’s no gluing required; all remaining parts fit perfectly and can be easily screwed into place. All servos are already installed. With the exception of the vertical stabilizer, all connections (servos) are designed as plug-in connections. This makes connecting the wings to the fuselage a breeze.

The electronic landing gear with two spotlights on the nose wheel is a real highlight. When extending, the landing gear doors open first, followed a short while later by the landing gear legs, which emerge slowly. The spring-loaded aluminum landing gear feels sturdy; all wheels are mounted on ball bearings, and the main landing gear is also

equipped with a braking function, which can easily bring the over 7.5 kg mass to a stop. Worth mentioning is the MFC-2085 controller unit; it is simply connected to the receiver and two 2S batteries, with the receiver connected to the

SBUS. Programming is extremely simple, as the servos are already precisely calibrated. We set the servo travel ranges according to the manual. We set the elevator to 30% Expo and leave the other control surfaces unchanged.

There is more than enough space in the nose of the fuselage for the two 6S 5000 mAh LiPo batteries, which we connect in series to make a 12S pack. There is enough room to precisely adjust the center of gravity by moving the batteries. However, before the first flight, we positioned the batteries about 1.0 cm further forward.

We placed two pilot figures in the cockpit (not included), as their absence would be noticeable in flight footage. However, the cockpit is perfectly prepared to accommodate these figures; the ejection seats have not yet been glued into the cockpit.

At the model airfield, all that's left to do is screw the wings to the fuselage, and then the T-33 will be ready to fly.

We use two 2S 2200-mAh LiPo batteries for the power supply. Two 6S 5000-mAh LiPo batteries are used as the flight batteries.

We’re planning a flight time of three minutes for the first flight to ensure we have enough power in reserve. Who knows if the first landing attempt will work?

To conserve energy, the T-33 is carried to the launch site. The pilot is 12-year-old Rodito Nussbaumer.

The model accelerates well on the grass runway and takes off after an estimated 40 meters. We have to trim the elevator slightly for altitude; all the other controls are perfectly balanced. The model flies smoothly and responds precisely to control inputs. Already on the first flight, Rodito tests maneuvers such as inverted flight and rolls, which go off without a hitch; the model flies as steady as a board.

After the planned three minutes, Rodito guides the T-33 down for landing. Weighing about 7.5 kg, the model glides in a bit too quickly. The model can be “run down” beautifully before it touches down; at the end, the brakes help bring the model to a stop. The pilot is immensely relieved—his eyes are shining, and he’s beaming from ear to ear.

For the second flight, we moved the batteries back by 1.0 cm and increased the Expo on the elevator

elevator to 40%. The jet now responds more smoothly to the elevator. This is followed by fast, low flyovers, followed by a climb into a reverse half Cuban eight. It turns out that you should hold the throttle slightly past the apex of the maneuver to achieve stable flight. The jet doesn’t climb vertically indefinitely—it’s not a rocket—but it flies like a jet trainer.

The flight characteristics look very scale; especially in sunlight, the silver-metallic surface reflects the light just like a real jet. Viewed from a distance, you wouldn’t expect this model to be a foam jet.

The information in the owner's manual regarding center of gravity, rudder deflections, etc., is completely accurate and can be followed without hesitation.

Launching from the grass is no problem. This is very reassuring, since such EDF models often fail when launching from the grass because the rolling resistance is too high or the power is too low.

You can enjoy the flight, as the jet has docile flight characteristics; however, it’s important not to fly the jet too slowly.

A sparkling shooting star.

Original: Lockheed produced 5,691 T-33s between 1948 and 1957. Canadair manufactured 656 T-33s as the CT-133 “Silver Star” under license; Kawasaki produced 210 aircraft, bringing the total number of T-33s built to 6,557. Although the T-33 was officially designated “Shooting Star,” just like the F-80, it was better known by its unofficial name, “T-Bird.”

Our 6S batteries, at 5,000 mAh, are a bit on the small side. We plan to use larger batteries to increase the flight time slightly.

Landing is no problem for experienced pilots. If the runway is short, the brakes help bring the model to a stop

. However, you shouldn’t apply the brakes when traveling at too high a speed. You should therefore check the landing gear from time to time to make sure the adhesive joints are still secure.

In our view, the T-33 “Shooting Star” is fairly priced at 1,299 francs and is definitely worth the money.