Lockheed P-80A for the U.S. Navy (1945)

[jzichek]

Check out this article at RetroMechanix.com on a Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star procured by the U.S. Navy in 1945:



The aircraft received several modifications for carrier use, including the addition of an arresting hook, catapult hooks and holdback. The accompanying image gallery features 21 high resolution photos of this rare P-80 variant, including close-ups of the arresting gear. Ideal for modelers or enthusiasts of historic naval aviation!

-Jared

[Mossie]

Nice find!  I know the USN operated a fair amount of TV-1's to get their pilots up to speed before theire own jets came on line, but a Korean FV-1 in 80 in USN Glossy Sea Blue & folded wings would look the part.

[NARSES2]

Thanks for that - very interesting

[jzichek]

We've posted a follow-up article on the early navalized Lockheed P-80A at RetroMechanix.com:



Based on material provided by naval aviation historian Tommy Thomason, the article features 6 photos of the aircraft under evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland in 1946. The high resolution photos provide close-up views of both the bridle and pendant configurations which were tested for catapult launch of the aircraft.

-Jared

[NARSES2]

I am starting to see an overall gloss blue one 

[Mossie]

Maybe a RN version as an interim due to the dealy with the Attacker & Sea Hawk?  Can't have been worse than the Attacker!

[The Wooksta!]

I'm already thinking of one in EDSG/Sky with P markings.  Means I can use that Airfix one that's been sitting around for a while. 

Wonder what happened to the wreck of the one I did in 1990?

[jzichek]

The third installment in our unplanned series on an early navalized Lockheed P-80A is up at RetroMechanix.com:



The article presents a re-discovered U.S. Naval Air Test Center (NATC) report dating from June 23, 1947 on flight tests of the Shooting Star as an overload fighter with wing tip auxiliary fuel tanks installed. The accompanying image gallery reproduces the entire report, including several rare photos of the aircraft with wing tip tanks attached.

-Jared

[Scooterman]

I'm already thinking of one in EDSG/Sky with P markings. 

Me likie that, Wook!

[zenrat]

Currently reading Chasing the Demon by Dan Hampton which contains mention of Project Extraversion.  This was testing four YP-80s in Europe during the dying days of WW2.
Two in the UK and two in Italy.
https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/project-extraversion-p-80-shooting-stars-in-world-war-ii/

[Dizzyfugu]

The USN actually operated the P/F-80 (roundabout fifty) under the designation "TO-1", allocated to VF-52, but none was carrier-capable - they were rather used as trainers until naval jet fighters became available.

An all-blue one should look pretty, though. 

[PR19_Kit]

Currently reading Chasing the Demon by Dan Hampton which contains mention of Project Extraversion.  This was testing four YP-80s in Europe during the dying days of WW2.
Two in the UK and two in Italy.
https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/project-extraversion-p-80-shooting-stars-in-world-war-ii/

Veeeeery interesting. 

I knew that they'd sent two P-80s to Italy, but not about the UK ones.

[DogfighterZen]

An all-blue one should look pretty, though. 

Totally agree with you, mate! 

[Dizzyfugu]

Personally, I'd also add a raised cockpit for a better field of view. Hmmm... I have an Airfix P-80 somewhere in the stash... Too bad that I already started another GB project!

[PR19_Kit]

Too bad that I already started another GB project!

Since when has that slowed you down?