Flying the T-33 - Oct 2001

In mid-2001, my Cockpit design team had loaned some of our prototype 8x10 displays to a Boeing team conducting research on "pathway-in-the-sky" techniques for pilot displays. For their flight trials, the team mounted the large 8x10 displays in the back seat of one of our Boeing-owned T-33s, registration number N109X.

N109X is a T-33 originally built in 1954 for the Royal Canadian Air Forces by Canadair. In 1951 Canadair was given a contract to build T-33 Trainers for the RCAF. The designation of the T-33 in the Canadian Forces was CT-133, and it was nicknamed "Silver Star". The power plant is a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbo jet instead of the Allison J33 used by Lockheed in the production of the original T-33. A total of 656 T-33 aircraft were built by Canadair. Its service life in the RCAF (and later the Canadian Armed Forces) was very long, with the Canadian Forces finally retiring it as a trainer in 1976.

The Boeing Flight Test team uses the T-33 for chase and photo duties, along with research and development projects, such as this "pathway in the sky" research. Rich Edwards, the project lead, let me know that there was one last demonstration flight left in the test program, and I could have it. I was briefed up on the test symbology and system operation, and pre-briefed the flight with John Madden, the Boeing project test pilot, the day before.

IN WORK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WORK