The Lockheed T2V SeaStar, later called the T-1 SeaStar, is a carrier-capable jet trainer for the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

that entered service in May 1957. Developed from the Lockheed T-33 (itself derived from the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star), it was powered by one Allison J33 engine.

Design and development

Starting in 1949, the U.S. Navy used the Lockheed T-33 for land-based jet aircraft training. The T-33 was a derivative of the Lockheed P-80/F-80 fighter and was first named TO-2, then TV-2 in Navy service. However, the TV-2 was not suitable for operation from aircraft carriers. The persisting need for a carrier-compatible trainer led to a further, more advanced design development of the P-80/T-33 family, which came into being with the Lockheed designation L-245 and USN designation T2V. Lockheed's demonstrator L-245 first flew on 16 December 1953 and production deliveries to the US Navy began in 1956. Compared to the T-33/TV-2, the T2V was almost totally re-engineered for carrier landings and at-sea operations with a redesigned tail, naval standard avionics, a strengthened undercarriage (with catapult fittings) and lower fuselage (with a retractable arrestor hook), power-operated leading-edge flaps (to increase lift at low speeds) to allow carrier launches and recoveries, and an elevated rear (instructor's) seat for improved instructor vision, among other changes. Unlike other P-80 derivatives, the T2V could withstand the shock of landing on a pitching carrier deck and had a much higher ability to withstand sea water-related aircraft wear from higher humidity and salt exposure.

Operational history

The only version of the T2V was initially designated T2V-1 when it entered service, but was redesignated T-1A SeaStar under the

1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system The Tri-Service aircraft designation system is a unified system introduced in 1962 by the United States Department of Defense for designating all U.S. military aircraft. Previously, the U.S. armed services used separate nomenclature systems. ...

, the designation under which it would spend the majority of its career. The T-1A was replaced by the

North American T-2 Buckeye The North American T-2 Buckeye was the United States Navy's intermediate training aircraft, intended to introduce U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps student naval aviators and student naval flight officers to jets. It entered service in 1959, begi ...

but remained in service into the 1970s.

Operators

; *

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

Surviving aircraft

As of 2017, one T2V-1A airworthy, based at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (former Williams Air Force Base) in Mesa, Arizona, and being flown for experimental and display purposes. Two examples are preserved on public display in Tucson,

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

.Ogden, p. 98

Specifications (T2V-1)

Lockheed T2V-1 Seastar 3-view line drawing

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Francillon, René J. ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. London:Putnam, 1982. . * Ginter, Steve. ''Lockheed T2V-1/T-1A Seastar. Naval Fighters #42''. Simi Valley, California: Ginter Books, 1999. . * Ogden, Bob. Aviation Museums and Collections of North America. 2007. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. . * Swanborough, Gordon, with Bowers, Peter M. ''United States Navy Aircraft since 1911''. 1990. Putnam Aeronautical Books. . * Green, William, with Gerald Pollinger.'' The Aircraft of the World''. New York; Doubleday & Co., 1965. P. 255. * Green, William, with Dennis Punett. ''MacDonald World Air Power Guide''. London; Purnell & Sons, Ltd. (reprinted by Doubleday), 1963. P. 28.

External links

''Naval Aviation Chronology 1954–1959'' chapter from ''United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995'' book.
{{USAF trainer aircraft T02V 1950s United States military trainer aircraft Single-engined jet aircraft Low-wing aircraft Carrier-based aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1953