From another thread, wanted to get the Meteor thread back to its own...this should be the P-80 thread...here is what was there
The Meteor is a neat aircraft, and none are flying now. The big issue on Jets being fun/usable, is to answer the question "is there is a second seat". A historic plane. But outside the general interest of most.
Thread Creep
P-80's are rare, it is true, and none fly, the last one probably being a Chilean one in 1974. There are around 24 worldwide, and while that seems like a good number, only two are actually privately owned. That means they are the only two flyer candidates. Further most are outside and are in poor condition. When the USAF had the last 60 or so T-33 destroyed in Tucson in 2007, that went the last truly decent supply of wings and parts to support military restorations of T-33 or P-80 airframes. As far as civilian parts, the T-33 remains a parts plentiful aircraft with low demand.
But it begs the question, why not restore an 80' ?
Well its a tremendously historic plane, with the USAF putting the aircraft into the fight in Korea very early. and making the first USAF jet to jet kill for real when a Mig-15 fell to Russel J. Brown's guns. Five more Mig-15s lost everything to the P-80, but the swept wing Sabre was more of an equal, and handled the offensive air to air role. The USAF put the F-80C and RF-80 into service to help boots on the ground, and during 1951-53 the USAF at peak was losing the equivalent aircraft of one squadron per month to ground fire. One squadron of aircraft per month. m That is part of the rarity reason....Then as drones, and finally as export fighters. Also parts are similar to the T-33, so commonality led to consumption. The T-33 was far more valuable as a trainer in 1955 than the P-80 was as a fighter. Remember the T-33 was known as a TF-80C, so even the wing is a direct swap. All of them in service after about 1955 got "Fletcher" tanks, and so as parts were needed, the P-80's gave them up and faded away.....
To restore one would be wonderful, but the interest isn't there yet. The Stored and static P-80/F-80's with Korean combat history are unknown, and when in a decade or so it is discovered that a forlorn corroded P-80 is actually a Mig Killer or something of that sort...will she be savable? What are the P-80 mig killer serial numbers? The DFC mission aircraft ect...? Also it may be a good time to remind everyone that the T-33 was there too...and several were lost in combat in the transition/training role while dropping bombs. Historic stuff.
As far as modifying a T-33, why? It wont have the value of an 80' and it won't be an 80. Nobody on the net will ever let the owner forget it. Look at the beautiful Mustang and Spitfire restorations that are presented to the public to have some wag on the net post..."so how much is actually even original in that mustang or is it a replica...?" Tough to hear after 4.0 has been spent building your C model...And how many travel to see the Me-262 flying in Texas, or others? The jet "critical airshow mass" isn't here yet. Imagine the fun of building a real 80' after years of work to have someone yell from the ropes about how you "just cut up" some Trainer and its "not even a real jet...." (Why pilots aren't allowed to carry guns.)
A P-80 can be restored from a wreck, especially with a lot of T-33 donor help. I wish it was a matter of time, but the fact is that a T-33 is everything the P-80 is, without the history, and faster. Watch Greg Colyer's Acemaker on youtube, its an awesome jet and incidentally is the most popular warbird act in the country. Thats right, the most successful warbird act in the USA is a T-33. Would Acemaker be great in a Shooting Star? You Bet! But its a truth that a jet is a bit different than a piston bird...and its all gotta be built really strong. To build an 80 from a T-33 is not just removing a plug, but crating all new structure keels and longerons to hold that mighty thing together at many G's of force. The Acemaker display is very high energy, and if you realize the forces involved, an idea of a "simple" replica is nothing of the kind.
Its important to save the static 80's we have, and force the USAFM to bring them inside until we truly know what we have. Someday, perhaps. But for now support your local T-33!!!
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