F-80 back to Camp Dodge

[Duggy009]

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

[Thomas_Mac]

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

Came across video of this on my YouTube recommendations.

[Chris Brame]

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

F-80C-1-LO Shooting Star/47-171
4/30/1948: First flight.
Modified as NF-80C.
Wright Air Development Center.
Sole example constructed of magnesium.
Michigan ANG 171st FS?
Was preserved in Canton, OH?
Was preserved at WPAFB Museum, OH but removed due to fire risk. Where now? At Rickenbacker ANGB, OH? Or salvaged?

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

[sandiego89]

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.

[Chris Brame]

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

[quemerford]

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

[Woodsy Airfield]

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

[JohnB]

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