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F-80 Shooting Star
The F-80 was the first US Air Force aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight and the first American jet built in quantity. Originally designated P-80, the nomenclature was changed in 1948 when the P-for- pursuit designation was dropped. The Shooting Star was the victor in the world's first all-jet air battle when Lt. Russell Brown shot down a MiG-15 on 8 November 1950. This aircraft is one of the few remaining Shooting Stars to see combat in Korea. The bubble canopy provided excellent visibility to the pilot, though the forward view was dominated by the optical sight.
| Manufacturer: |
Lockheed |
| Type: |
Fighter (Multirole) |
| Number Built: |
1,731 |
| First Flight: |
8 January 1944 (XP-80); 13 September (YP-80A) |
| In Service: |
1945 – 1975 (US Air National Guard service ended in 1961; Uruguay operated its last F-80s until 1975.) |
| Notable: |
The Shooting Star literally went from a preliminary design sketched on the back of a cocktail napkin to a completed aircraft prototype in 143 days. |
Photographer/
Location: |
John Rossino/National Museum of the US Air Force |
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