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Description
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed | |
| Base model: | F-80 | |
| Designation: | F-80 | |
| Version: | C | |
| Nickname: | Shooting Star | |
| Equivalent to: | P-80C | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1948-Present | |
| Basic role: | Fighter | |
| Crew: | Pilot | |
| See Also: | ||
Specifications
| Length: | 34' 5" | 10.4 m | |
| Height: | 11' 3" | 3.4 m | |
| Wingspan: | 38' 9" | 11.8 m | |
| Wingarea: | 237.6 sq ft | 22.0 sq m | |
| Empty Weight: | 8,240 lb | 3,736 kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 12,200 lb | 5,532 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 16,856 lb | 7,644 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Allison J33-A-35 | ||
| Thrust (each): | 5,400 lb | 2,448 kg | |
Performance
| Range: | 825 miles | 1,328 km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 439 mph | 706 km/h | 381 kt |
| Max Speed: | 594 mph | 956 km/h | 516 kt |
| Climb: | 6,870 ft/min | 2,093 m/min | |
| Ceiling: | 46,800 ft | 14,264 m | |
Known serial numbers
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Alaska ANG - 176th Gp, Anchorage | Kulis ANGB | Alaska |
| Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Assoc. | NAS Willow Grove | Pennsylvania |
| Museum of Aviation | Warner Robins AFB | Georgia |
| Reflections of Freedom Historical Air Park | Wichita | Kansas |
| Texas ANG - 136th AW, Dallas | Dallas | Texas |
| USAF Armament Museum | Eglin AFB | Florida |
| United States Air Force Museum | Wright-Patterson | Ohio |
F-80C on display
Museum of Aviation | Reflections of Freedom Historical Air Park | United States Air Force Museum | USAF Armament Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| ed mcelwee , TX | The note that tom gwinn wrote brings a few memories, I was a pilot in the 64th ftr sq then and william p benedict was the co and I use to go the the range often with felix[doc] blanchard and shoot skeet, also pulled alert duty at naknek many times. 01/27/2008 @ 15:05 [ref: 19440] |
| tabare ifran Montevideo-Uruguay, AL | I would like to contact to anybody which could give info about F-80 49-432 and 49-696, maybe M. Ramos form maryland
Thanks 02/19/2007 @ 09:30 [ref: 15581] |
| Harold Macking , FL | Bluie West One was a refueling base between Goose Bay and Keflavik. Our runway had one approach---up the fjord and watch the icebergs. One time an F 80 missed the threshold and tried going around. The mountains across the fjord were close and the water was cold. They figured that rescue time was seven minutes if you went in. Our two crash boats were good but not fast as the fjord was about four miles across and several miles long.
I was driving a weapons carrier parking the planes for refueling. I hooked on the nosewheel of the pilot that went around. He had run out of fuel about 3/4 up the runway. I got him off the active and parked properly. The canopy came back and I heard a loud thud as his helmet hit the snow covered ramp. "They just don't pay me enough to fly these dammned planes up here", the pilot, a Major, said as he climbed down. 01/13/2007 @ 16:31 [ref: 15181] |
| Tom Gwinn Tucumcari, NM | Elderly and senile, it's not Mt Everest, how about Mt Mckinley. 03/12/2006 @ 18:16 [ref: 12783] |
| Tom Gwinn Tucumcari, NM | I was stationed at Elmendorf AFB from 1949 to 1951. It was my first assignment after Tech School and Major Benedict was my Commanding officer. I have great respect for him and his many accomplishments. If anyone was statiioned there during this period:::
Do you remember the kind of wings he wore? Do you remember the story in Life magazine about the controversy over a flag supposedly posted atop Mt Everest? Do you remember the winter when there was an ice jam on a river and the water being backed up and threatening to flood a town? Do you remember when the longest nonstop flight by a P-80 was made to White Horse, Canada? Do you remember when Benedict and Blanchard were messing around in their P-80's and Blanchard spotted a moose below. Benedict could not see it so Blanchard said "follow me"? (Blanchard was not only a football player, he was also a good softball pitcher) Do you remember the conflict between Benedict and the Provost Marshall? Do you remember what happened when Benedict attempted to stay with an invading aircraft from Eilison AFB? Do you remember how damn cold it was in Alaska? And, do you remember "Truman"s Year"? 03/12/2006 @ 13:18 [ref: 12778] |
| Charles Christian Santa Rosa, CA | The spring of 1951 I was sent two weeks TDY to Naknek AFS , AK, to do Crypto for a Det. of the 64th FIS. Maj Van Bebber, the Det. C.O., said he did not want to send classified mission reports and I could go right back to Elmendorf, or, he was short one each Fighter Oprns Clerk and I could OJT in a few hours and take over the morning shift in the Ready Hut for the two weeks of manuevers. I took the job and it was a ball. We had 4 F-80's and were straffed going to work one A.M. in the dark before manuevers were to start and we had hot brass fall on our 6 By. On the next pass of the two planes the pilot pulled canopy eject instead of flare release and he had to land and we took him prisoner. 1st Lt/Capt. "Doc" Blanchard of West Point football fame. He went on to retire a bird Col.
Ex Sgt. 1931st AACS Sq. 09/28/2005 @ 16:10 [ref: 11355] |
| Bill Starr Mt. Prospect, IL | While serving in Sarajevo, Bosnia withthe first deployment (January - September 1996) I discovered 2 crashed F-80 Shooting Stars in the "junk pile" near the main runway at the Sarajevo airport (what was left of it). An Italian office friend of mine climbed up into one of them and removed the dashboard. It is missing a few gages but it is mostly there. I brought it home.
Is there any interest in buying this from me? 02/08/2005 @ 13:35 [ref: 9394] |
| Charles B. Compton North Highlands, CA | I got carried away with last comment and on Margaret Hetrick email. For some reason I was realting FT-580 with the crash of her cousin Gleen Payne in 1950. That ac was certainly not FT-580. SORRY
Still looking for someone that worked at the Base Maintenance Hanger that may have helped develope the skis used to fly out FT-429. I believe FT-580 was used to develope the skis. Darryl Pollock said that a fellow named Lou Bland may be able to help out. He was last known to live in the Seattle area. Now I've lost contact with Ken Loomans. The snailmail I last sent him came back "undeliverable" and not ans. email. 01/07/2005 @ 16:48 [ref: 9078] |
| DARRYL E. POLLOCK MOUNT VERNON, WA | I WAS IN THE 65TH FIS AT ELMENDORF FROM ABOUT AUG. OF 1950 TILL JULY OF 1952, AND WELL REMEMBER THE FLIGHT OF THE F80 ON SKIS. AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE IT WAS A REPAIR JOB IN THE BUSH AND COL. PAUL BENEDICT FLEW IT OUT ON THE SKI'S.
I SAW HIM LAND AT ELMENDORF. HE WAS C.O. OF THE 64TH FIS AND WAS POPULARLY KNOWN AS "BALLS OUT BENEDICT". HE HAD QUITE A FEW REMARKABLE FLIGHTS TO HIS CREDIT, INCLUDING THE LANDING ON THE ICE ISLAND IN THE ARCTIC AND LONG RANGE TIP TANKS ON THE F-94 WHICH WE WERE EQUIPPED WITH BEGINNING ABOUT THE FALL OF 1950. COL BENEDICT I BELIEVE WAS ALSO A MEMBER FOR SHORT TIME OF THE RAF EAGLE SQUADRON. QUITE A GUY. THE C.O. OF THE 65TH FIS WAS LT. COL. HARVEY E. HENDERSON WHO WAS PROMOTED TO FULL COL. WHILE WITH THE SQUADRON AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY MOVED UP TO THE 1OTH AIR DIVISION AS OPS OFFICER. THE GROUP COMMANDER (57TH FIG) WAS DUANE BEESON FOR AT LEAST PART OF MY TOUR. YOU MIGHT CHECK OUT HIS RECORD IN THE ETO DURING WW2. ALSO THE 66TH FIGHTER GROUP WAS COMMANDED BY MAJ. JOHN (I THINK) MITCHELL WHO CAN BE REMEMBERED AS THE COMMANDER OF THE FLIGHT OF P38"S THAT SHOT DOWN YAMAMOTO 11/30/2004 @ 22:47 [ref: 8751] |
| Charles B. Compton North Highlands, CA | Reference to email to this site 8/25/00.
1. I found Kenneth J. Loomans. 2. Ken's phone conversation and then email to me next. This is from Ken Loomans; Phone conversation. To the best of my fading memory I was crew chief on the F-80 that the skis were attached to test whether they would work. I think that the number of the F-80 was 580 and the pilots assigned to that aircraft was at one time Lt. Bond. (Perhaps John was his first name.) Later it was assigned to the commanding officer of the 65th and I think it was a Col. Henderson. I am trying to locate pictures that I use to have of my days with the 65th. Will let you know if and when I find anything. (Original note's from conversation.) email from Ken April 27, 2004. I found the above note and no name on it. I thought it was from Cliff Nugent, I asked him by email and he said no, then I decided to try Ken. His response was similar to the original note above. Bud: I was crew chief on the FT-580. If I can help out with any questions please let me know. The pilot, I think, was a Colonel Henderson, but I am not sure. Prior to Colonel Henderson I think there was a Lt. or a captain named John Bond. Somewhere in my family I have pictures of that aircraft with me sitting on the wing and a picture of the squadron. I just recently got the REPORT OF AF AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT from Maxwell AFB Research Agency. It states that it had just aborted a tow target mission after 15 min due to tow targert malfunction. This was Feb. 27, 1951. While taxiing down the taxiiway a Sno-Go turned in front of the a/c and while both tried to avoid a collision the right wing hit the front of the Sno-Go . Right wing displaced aft, with permanent set,requiring replacement of wing at a cost of $13,221.50 and 2000 Man-Hours. Now loaded with Accident Report I'm waiting for a reply to a email sent to Ken last Friday. I don't think after crashing in Korea in Sept of 1950 it was repaired and sent to Alaska and then after being damaged there and repaired it was sent back to Korea. Bud Compton 10/25/2004 @ 19:18 [ref: 8505] |
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