Any flying P/F-80s?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

I think I know the answer ("No"), but I'll ask anyway: are there any airworthy P/F-80s anywhere in the world, whether they're parked or actively flying?

Not talking about T-33s or any other two-seat variant. I know there are several of those flying.

[OD/NG]

No

[Chris Brame]

I'd like to be more optimistic and say "Not yet." Could Planes of Fame's 44-85488 be a candidate? And it's not in the Registry, but Wikipedia says Yanks Air Museum has P-80C 49-0719 in storage.
As far as I know, the most recent flight of a P/F-80 was in the early 1970s when the last Uruguayan Air Force example exploded in mid-air on its delivery flight to the USA.
(Paging Tulio: Can you confirm? I'm in the middle of moving back to CA and my old Air Classics are already boxed and shipped)

[Tulio]

Chris:

This is a redacted version of what I have on Uruguayan F-80s:


Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya FAU:

I found no reference to an F-80 exploding in mid-air while it was being exported to the USA.

The only reference is as follows:

FAU-212 ==== F-80C-1-LO === 48-873 === Fuel tank exploded.
On 02 August 1964, FAU-212 flown by Ttte. 2° Javier Betancor experienced an engine stoppage due to fuel starvation; the pilot attempted an emergency landing at the "Aerodromo Militar General Artigas" while at the same time, continued to attempt an airstart. Believing that he could make it to Carrasco, and within the limits of the airfield, the fuel tank exploded, destroying the airplane, and killing the pilot.

++++++++

FAU-213 === F-80C-10-LO ==== 49-3597 is preserved at the Museo Nacional de Aviación in Montevideo.

There is another F-80 ex-FAU-218 F-80, 49-432 (F-80C-10-LO) preserved at the Armament Museum, EglinAFB FL


Uruguay received 17 F-80s under MDAP funding. Deliveries began on 12May 1958 (5 aircraft)
Another 3 arrived during the first two weeks of July. These were following by 6 on 18 September, and the last unit arrived on 12 22 September 1958.


All the aircraft were flight delivered by U.S. pilots, and arrived with full armament, including K-14C gunsight.


FAU Serials assigned 210 - 226



Besides Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru also operated the F-80


There is also this, of interest to those living in neighboring states:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=51840

Saludos,


Tulio

[Thomas_Mac]

And it's not in the Registry, but Wikipedia says Yanks Air Museum has P-80C 49-0719 in storage.

Here's a pic I got 5 years ago.

Last edited by Thomas_Mac on Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Neal Nurmi]

So which one is this? It was at Dick Martin's place in Carlsbad, Ca (I think) in 1980.

Attachments

[mike furline]

So which one is this? It was at Dick Martin's place in Carlsbad, Ca (I think) in 1980.

Confusing.....some websites list the P-80C at Relections of Freedom Historical Airpark, McConnell AFB, while other sites have it omitted.
N10DM/47-0215 https://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossie ... erial=8159
47-0215 https://www.airliners.net/photo/USA-Air ... ar/1805434

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1946.html
215 (MSN 080-1976) 1951: Maine ANG 132nd FIS. 1952: USAF 3595th PTG. Feb 1958: Transferred to the Colombian AF as "2058". Or in 1955? Returned to the USAF. At Kansas ANG Historical Air Park, Wichita, KS. In Jun 1992 was on display at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. Noted Feb 29, 2004 at Relections of Freedom Historical Airpark, McConnell AFB, KS, painted as 58612.
https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/re ... ew/google/

45-8612 https://www.airhistory.net/photo/60244/45-8612/0-58612

[Dan Jones]

Am I imagining this, or was the RF-80 ever known as the “Snooping Star”?

[Tulio]

These are the P-80 photos I have shot in the USA through the years:



Saludos,


Tulio

Attachments

P-80 McConnell AFB KS Jul01 01.jpg (99.16 KiB) Viewed 3714 times

P-80 McConnell AFB KS Jul01 02.jpg (113 KiB) Viewed 3714 times

P-80 McConnell AFB KS Jul01 03.jpg (86.97 KiB) Viewed 3714 times

[Tulio]

Dos:

Attachments

MAAM Liberal KS.jpg (80.18 KiB) Viewed 3713 times

Lockheed P-80 58-555.jpg (100.83 KiB) Viewed 3713 times

[Tulio]

Tres:

Attachments

P-80 Merced 0202.jpg (144.4 KiB) Viewed 3713 times

P-80 45-8704 McClellan AFB 0202.jpg (115.21 KiB) Viewed 3713 times

P-80 45-8490 Castle AFB 0202.jpg (113.04 KiB) Viewed 3713 times

[LysanderUK]

I've always wondered why there are no airworthy P/F80's around, there have been plenty of Sabres and some Panthers etc over the years but not the poor old '80. I would have thought the parts commonality with the T-33 would be pretty high and would make a potential restoration easier?

A pioneering jet from World War Two and Korea, there surely deserves to be an airworthy one.

Out of interest, how difficult would it be to convert a T-33 into an F80??

[Hooligan2]

Am I imagining this, or was the RF-80 ever known as the “Snooping Star”?

If it wasn't, it should have been!

[JohnB]

Out of interest, how difficult would it be to convert a T-33 into an F80??

Years ago on this very forum, there was talk of such a conversion.
As I recall one was underway.

[Pogmusic]

Here is the one at Eglin's Armament Museum. http://www.afarmamentmuseum.com/img/por ... raft13.jpg