Twin-Tailed T-33

ChuckAnderson

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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
 
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.
 

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

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

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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?
 
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.
 
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).
 

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