Canadair CT-133 Silver Star
Canadair · Canada · first flew 1952 · light aircraft
The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star was the Canadian licence-built version of the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star jet trainer, produced by Canadair for the Royal Canadian Air Force. It became the standard Canadian jet trainer for decades.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.48 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Canadian licence-built version of the Lockheed T-33 jet trainer
- Straight low-mounted jet wings with tip tanks, tandem two-seat cockpit under a long canopy
- Single turbojet engine exhausting under the tail, Allison J33 powerplant
Identical in silhouette to the Lockheed T-33 — straight wings, tip tanks, long tandem cockpit — but the Nene engine gives a slightly wider rear fuselage cross-section; Canadian markings and RCAF colour schemes are the most reliable differentiators.
Specifications
- The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star has a length of 11.48 m (38 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.93 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 920 km/h (572 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Canadair produced 656 Silver Stars between 1952 and 1959, with the type equipping RCAF flying schools and serving as a light ground attack aircraft. The Silver Star differed from the American T-33 mainly in using the Rolls-Royce Nene engine rather than the Allison J33.
Variants
The CT-133 Silver Star 3 was the main RCAF variant; some were later modified for electronic warfare training as the CT-133AN.
Where you'll see it
Served as the primary RCAF jet trainer from the 1950s into the 1980s and was also used for target towing and electronic warfare training; a handful remained airworthy with private operators into the 2000s.
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