Feeling patriotic today
Photo by John Lackey  #avgeek    

Originally shared by Fly By Photography

Fast Jet Friday!!

A twofer for today, an F-86 Sabre and a T-33 Shooting Star. The T-33 is the two-seat training version of the first jet to enter service with the US military, the F-80. The F-80 was a fighter, designed and first flown during World War II, but never saw combat in that war. The F-80 was used in combat as a fighter-bomber during the Korean War.

The F-86 was designed after World War II and was the first US military aircraft to feature swept-back flying surfaces. The F-86 was used as a fighter during the Korean War where they achieved a victory ratio of 10:1.

This F-86 wears the colors of the US Air Force Europe Starblazers aerobatic team. The Starblazers were formed in 1949 and performed over Europe and North Africa. The Skyblazers flew the F-86 in the mid-’50s. In 1962, with the USAF Thunderbirds flying aircraft capable of being easily flown to Europe, the Skyblazers were disbanded.

The T-33 wears the colors of the USAF Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds were formed in 1953 at Luke AFB. The Thunderbirds team narrator flew the T-33 to and from airshow sites and provided press rides. The team used the T-33 in the ’50s and early ’60s.

An interesting side note, two of the original members of the Skyblazers, identical twins, Lieutenants C. A. “Bill” and Charles C. “Buck” Pattillo were also original members of the Thunderbirds.

“Vintage Stars”
http://goo.gl/ZSdaUD
Skyblazers’ F-86 Sabre and Thunderbirds’ T-33 Shooting Star in formation

‪#‎FastJetFriday‬