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Lockheed T-1 SeaStar (T2V SeaStar)

1957 COLD WAR

History of the Lockheed T-1 SeaStar (T2V SeaStar)

The Lockheed T2V-1/T-1 is an improved version of the T-33 trainer, produced as a deck landing trainer The U.S. Navy became.

The T-33 is a fairly simple modification of the P-80 Meteor, turning it from a single-seat fighter into a two-seat trainer. The T-33 was produced in impressive numbers, with Lockheed building more than 5,500 of them, 699 of which went to the U.S. Navy, where it became the TV-2 (later T-33B).

Lockheed believed they could improve on the T-33 and began work on a privately funded new design in 1952. They have two goals - to increase the efficiency of the trainer and to improve the low-speed flight characteristics of the aircraft.

In order to achieve their first goal, the teacher's seat was raised by 15 cm so that he could see the students better. This required the installation of a modified canopy, with the rear higher than the front, to replace the T-33's flat canopy.

The second target requires more complex changes. The wings were given slats, the tail surface was enlarged and a boundary layer control system was installed.

This includes delivering compressed air from the engine's compressor chamber through slots in the top of the slats to give some control over the wing's aerodynamics. Lockheed expects the changes will reduce landing speeds by 7.4 km/h and takeoff speeds by 13 km/h.

In 1953, Lockheed decided to build another demonstration aircraft at its own expense. They bought an incomplete T-33A from the Air Force and finished it to the new standard. The official model of the aircraft is the L-245 Lockheed trainer model and the unofficial model is the T-33B. It was completed in November and made its first flight on December 16, 1953.

After early trials, a large dorsal fin was added to compensate for the raised cockpit canopy, and the tailpipes had to be modified, but otherwise the aircraft performed as expected.

The U.S. Air Force is not interested in the new trainer, but the U.S. Navy is looking for a jet-powered deck-landing trainer and is interested in a lower landing speed for the new aircraft. In May 1954, the Navy ordered eight T2V-1s, which would have fixed wingtip fuel tanks, more powerful fuselage and landing gear, hydraulically adjustable lowering on landing and raising during catapult launch and climb Nose unit, snap hook, and modified tail.

Prototypes were modified to test new features before being introduced into production aircraft.

The first production aircraft began test flights on January 20, 1956. Eighteen months later, the USS Antietam conducted an aircraft carrier qualification test. These were successful and many other orders were placed.

390 were originally ordered but only 150 were completed and the remaining 240 were cancelled.

The T2V-1 entered service at NAS Pensacola in late 1957. He excelled as a deck landing instructor, but the boundary layer control system proved problematic. It was quickly commissioned by the low-power North American T2J-1 (T-2A) for initial training, and the T2V-1 for advanced training.

Discontinued after Grumman F9F-8T (TF-9J) service, it can be used for deck landing and weapons training.