Warbird Information Exchange

Anyone know when the last time a Shooting Star flew? Always thought that with all the t-birds around that someone would resurrect one. Myself, I'd be awful tempted to build one with a Nene in it.

Dan

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Defending Stearmans on WIX since Jeff started badmouthing them back in 2005.

I am guessing probably 1974. That was the year that Chile retired the last of their F-80C Shooting Stars from service. A couple of other Latin American countries retired F-80C's from service in 1973. I think the Air National Guard retired their last F-80C's from service around 1958.

I would love to see an F-80 restored to flying condition. As much as I want to see the Planes of Fame P-59 fly again, I would rather see a P-80/F-80 back in the air again. I would love to see a flying F-80C with Korean War USAF markings (one of the squadrons with bright red or yellow markings) and the Misawa underwing tip tanks.

Didn't the Air Zoo's P-80 fly in?

Good question. What year would that have been? Was it one of the South American F-80's retired in 1973/74?

IIRC, the USAFM/NMUSAF's F-80 came from Uruguay in 1970. But I doubt if it flew in.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Found this item in the March '74 Air Classics, page 13:

"On October 16th (1973), the last flyable Lockheed P-80 in the Brazilian Air Force exploded in flight and crashed in the sea near Bahia, killing the pilot. This was the last flight to be made by a P-80 and the craft was on its way to the Air Museum in Rio."

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Just a guess, but possibly the last flight of a USAF F-80 would have been 1958 and no later than 1960. Around this time the Pentagon was streamlining their inventory. 1958 was the last flight of the PBY's, PBM's, and N3ns. The Air Force flew their last B-17's and Stinson L-5's in 1960.
Doubt there have ever been any flown civilian.

Don't forgetthe B-29. Its last USAF mission was in 1960.
I've read that it was a WB-29 and also a electronic aircraft.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Think about it - How long the F-51 Mustang and F-80 Shooting Star lasted in U.S. service relative to some later jets. The F-51 left Air National Guard service in 1957, the F-80 left Air National Guard service in 1958. The F-94B left Air National Guard Service in 1958 and the F-94C left Air National Guard service in July 1959. Another great early Air Force airplane that left service in that time period was the B-36, last one being officially retired in February 1959 (although I believe there was a last flight to the Air Force Museum a little later than that).

The F-94 isn't the best example, as it was designed to be an interim type.
But the B-36 and B-58 had short lives...as did the C-133. Come to think of it, the A-7 disn't stick around long.

Still, I think the Navy has the AF beat when it comes to short-lived postwar planes...Demons, Cutlasses, Skyrays, Furys (straight and swept wing), Pirates, Fireballs, Tigers, and probably a few more.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.