The Americans' first turbojet-powered combat aircraft, Lockheed’s P-80 “Shooting Star” entered service just before the end of the Second World War, but it did not see combat.

As the F-80 it did see considerable action in the early stages of the Korean War. By then a two-seat trainer version, the T-33, was entering service. It was built in far greater numbers than the fighter – 6,686 in total. They became very widely used, over many years.

The RCAF used the T-33 mainly for advanced pilot training and weapons training, with a few modified as ECM target aircraft. They served in considerable numbers, from 1953 until the last was retired in 2002. Canadair built 656 under licence as the “Silver Star” powered by the Rolls-Royce “Nene” turbojet. Our example was purchased from a farmer in Stoney Plains, Alberta by Palmer Dahl. It underwent an extensive restoration and was rolled out in 2010.