Warbird Information Exchange

Soldiers from the Iowa Army National Guard’s B/171 Aviation Regiment tie a sling to a historic F-80 Shooting Star aircraft at the Air National Guard Paint Facility in Sioux City, Iowa on April 11, 2023. The group will use a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to deliver the F-80 back to Camp Dodge where the aircraft will be placed on static display. U.S. Air National Guard photo Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

An Iowa Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter picks up a historic F-80 fighter jet from the Air National Guard paint facility in Sioux City, Iowa on April 11, 2023. The helicopter from the Iowa NG B/171 Aviation Regiment based in Davenport, is bringing the jet back to Camp Dodge to be placed on static display. U.S. Air National Guard photos Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot

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When I was young "sex was safe & flying was dangerous".

Good to see a F-80 back in the skies.

Came across video of this on my YouTube recommendations.

Wikipedia IDs this as NF-80C 47-0171, the only F-80 made of magnesium. Will need an update on the Forgotten Jets page:


One of Leon Cleaver's (Woodsy Airfield) shots, showing what is believed to be 47-171 at Mother Goose Land Park in Canton, OH on November 23, 1979:


Hope the gaps in the story can be filled in! The tail number now on it - 45-6626 - is from a CG-4A

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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)

Wow, if this is indeed the magnesium 47-171 I am amazed that it still exists at all, especially if it was a playground toy (lucky kids) outside. Magnesium does not do well outside for decades, just ask the outside B-36's and XC-99.

More info; apparently the plane had been there since the park opened in 1958:

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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)

The aircraft's full service history is:

P-80C s/n 47-171; available 03May48/accepted 03May48/delivered 03May48 for Lockheed under Proj AMC DL 3370

To Lockheed Burbank 06May48 (non-USAF use); to F-80C 01Jul48, bailment test from 03Mar49

Assigned 2750th ABW Wright Patterson 05Dec49 (test); redesignated EF-80C 06Dec49

To East Coast Aeronautics, Inc New York 28Jan50 (bailment test); bailment modification 23Mar50; bailment test 30May51

To East Coast Aeronautics, Inc Westchester 14Dec52 (bailment test); bailment (other) 26May53;

Assigned to Wright Development Center 06Jul55; to JF-80C 01Dec55; to NF-80C 07Mar56

Donated from Wright Patterson 01Nov57

Found a photo on the Canton P-80 in Air Classics Vol. 14 no. 3, page 12 showing aircraft from front view. No help as far as I.D. goes. Credit for photo J.E. Wannemacher

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Be happy to serve your fellowman

According to the Akron newspaper, Mothergooseland closed in the '80s and only recently reopened.
So, it's fortunate the Air Force took it.

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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.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.