National Museum of the USAF  
Join the Air Force

Home > Fact Sheets > Lockheed F-80

LOCKHEED F-80
Lockheed XF-80
View All Media
Next Image
Download

Fact Sheet Tools
 Printable Fact Sheet


The Shooting Star was the first USAF aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight, the first American jet airplane to be manufactured in large quantities, and the first USAF jet to be used in combat. Designed in 1943, the XP-80 made its maiden flight on Jan. 8, 1944. Several early P-80s were sent to Europe for demonstration, but World War II ended before the aircraft could be employed in combat. (The aircraft was redesignated in 1948 when P for Pursuit was changed to F for Fighter.) Of 1,731 F-80s built, 798 were F-80Cs.

Although it was designed as a high-altitude interceptor, the F-80C was used extensively as a fighter-bomber in the Korean Conflict, primarily for low-level rocket, bomb and napalm attacks against ground targets. On Nov. 8, 1950, an F-80C flown by Lt. Russell J. Brown, flying with the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, shot down a Russian-built MiG-15 in the world's first all-jet fighter air battle.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force has an F-80C on display in its Modern Flight Gallery. The XF-80B (P-80R) is on display in the museum's Research & Development/Flight Test Gallery.


Type Number built/
converted
Remarks
XF-80 1 Prototype with British jet engine
XF-80A 3 Improved XF-80 with J-33-GE-5
YF-80A 13 Service test; one XF-80 conversion
F-80A 917 First production USAF jet
XF-80B 1 (cv) Speed record conversion; P-80R
F-80B 240 (cv) Modified F-80A with J-36
F-80C 798 Improved F-80A with J-33-A


TECHNICAL NOTES (F-80C):
Armament: Six .50-cal. machine guns and eight 5-in. rockets or 2,000 lbs. bombs
Engine: Allison J-33 of 5,400 lbs. thrust (with water-alcohol injection)
Maximum speed: 580 mph
Cruising speed: 437 mph
Range: 1,090 mi.
Service ceiling: 46,800 ft.
Span: 38 ft. 10 1/2 in.
Length: 34 ft. 6 in.
Height: 11 ft. 4 in.
Weight: 16,856 lbs. maximum
Crew: One

Click here to return to the Fighter Aircraft index.








 Inside the Museum

ima cornerSearch

ima cornerAircraft

 


tabTell Us What You Think
tabCategories
tabMuseum Foundation
tabRelated Links
tabConnect

Museum Tour PodcastMuseum Facebook PageMuseum Twitter PageMuseum Flickr Page
Air Force Blue Tube on YouTubeMuseum E-newsletter Sign-upMuseum RSS Feeds



Site Map      Contact Us     Questions     Security and Privacy notice     E-publishing