Twin-Tailed T-33

[ChuckAnderson]

Hi Everyone!
I recall seeing a picture of a twin-tailed T-33 (though I can't recall where I saw it.)
Does anyone here know if there are any 3-views of this aircraft?

Chuck

 

[Sea Skimmer]

Found the picture for you here http://aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html


Seems it was an experimental variant for conducting carrier training and never went anywhere or had a formal designation, so finding a three view is perhaps unlikely.

 

[Geist]

Great.
It gives resource to build a odd scale model.

 

[toura]

see on"ecardmodels.com"
this tv2 ?? usaf marks !

 

[AeroFranz]

even less information in the caption of the enclosed picture, but here's another angle (sorry for poor quality; didn't have scanner available).

 

[AeroFranz]

BTW, any clue as to why you'd modify a T-33 with twin tails? Sea Skimmer's post above seems to indicate it was for carrier trials...so maybe the regular fin was ineffective at carrier approach speeds? But then the T2V adopted a single fin (albeit heavily redesigned). So was it a testbed to figure out the best tail configuration? Maybe @Tailspin Turtle knows? Or does someone have the Ginter volume on the Seastar?

 

[jstar]

During the definition phase for the Lockheed T2V-1 SeaStar carrier-based trainer version of the T-33 Shooting Star, one T-33 was modified with twin vertical tails as part of program to see if the post-stall stability of the T-33 could be improved. The Navy had concerns about the stability in the carrier landing pattern of a naval adaptation of the T-33.

Aircraft 51-4263 was modified with an enlarged horizontal tailplane with rounded end vertical fins. The rear fuselage tailpipe was also modified and some accounts also note a rudimentary arresting system added to the underside of the fuselage as well. Various shapes and materials were also trialled on this particular aircraft before it was returned to stock T-33 configuration.
From the article noted in Post #2 above.

 

[Justo Miranda]

Hi

 

[dan_inbox]

BTW, any clue as to why you'd modify a T-33 with twin tails? Sea Skimmer's post above seems to indicate it was for carrier trials...so maybe the regular fin was ineffective at carrier approach speeds?

Rather at carrier approach trajectory: In a steep descent with the fuselage flat or slightly cambered, the single fin is "obscured" by the fuselage. The twin fins could be out of that. (or not, with flaps out).