The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star is the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. [1] Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, two pre-production models saw limited service in Italy just before the end of World War II .

The cockpit was unpressurized and had an aft-sliding bubble top canopy. It had an internal fuel capacity of 200 to 285 gallons (757 to 1,079 liters) in two wing tanks and one self-sealing fuselage tank.

May 8, 2024 · Page details technical specifications, development, and operational history of the Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star Single-Seat, Jet-Powered Fighter / Fighter-Bomber Aircraft including pictures.

Aug 4, 2021 · The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star wins on all counts. While not the first U.S. jet fighter, it was developed in record time, becoming the first U.S. aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight, ultimately serving in various forms in the active U.S. military for over five decades.

May 10, 2023 · The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, also known as the F-80, was the first jet fighter used operationally by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF). While German jet aircraft, such as the Messerschmitt Me 262, often steal the limelight when discussing World War II-era aviation technology, the P-80 played a significant role in the conflict and helped shape ...

Aug 11, 2016 · The Shooting Star’s engine was mounted within the fuselage directly behind the cockpit. Lockheed designed the P-80 to be extremely maneuverable. Even at high speeds, the hydraulic aileron boost and balanced empennage controls allowed the aircraft to be limited only by the pilot’s ability to handle the forces from tight turns and pull-outs.

The P-80 Shooting Star is powered by a single Allison J33-A-35 engine. It is a centrifugal compressor turbojet with water injection, a single-stage double-sided centrifugal compressor, fourteen can type stainless steel combustion chambers, a single-stage axial turbine, and a wet sump oil system.

Apr 16, 2019 · The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying, and two pre-production models did see very limited service in Italy just before the end ...

With the XP-80 becoming the first U.S. plane to surpass and sustain 500 mph, the future of jet-powered flight may be more realistic than ever. The XP-80 was so responsive that test pilot Milo Burcham worried him to a certain extent, even though …

The P-80B had a landing light under a clear plastic fairing on top of the nose, while the F-80C had a small radar there, with the landing light moved to the nose wheel strut.