NZFF

It is always a look into the past when approaching historical aircraft in MSFS. The Lockheed T-33, often called the "mother of all jet trainers worldwide," is an aircraft in which probably hundreds of thousands of pilots from different generations of military aviators learned their trade.

The T-33 originates from the F-80 fighter, which first flew in 1944 and saw action in the Korean War – largely forgotten today. The T-33, however, remains present. In its design, it reflects an aircraft of its era: typical instrumentation, a tandem cockpit where the student pilot sat in front and the instructor behind – without direct access to the controls. The instructor had to place a certain level of trust in the student, a requirement still present in many, though not all, modern trainers.

Flying the aircraft at low altitude, one immediately notices how thirsty the first-generation jet engines are. Range was therefore quite limited, often requiring auxiliary tanks. Otherwise, the T-33 gives the impression of power rather than agility.

I flew the aircraft from Mont-de-Marsan (LFBM) to Cognac – Châteaubernard Air Base (LFBG) – a factual insight into a historical aircraft.

I think you have become the NZFF official test pilot

Thanks, I'll keep it in mind and try to keep showing you interesting models that might be of interest. On my ever-growing wish list at the moment are the Piaggio P. 180 Avanti, the Dassault Alpha Jet and the Ha 200 Saetta, a Spanish trainer developed by Willy Messerschmitt, the designer of the Bf 108 Taifun, the Bf 109 and the Me 262 after the war. My hangar is bursting, but what the heck.