F-80C Shooting Star

Initially developed around the British Halford H.1 engine taken from the de Havilland Vampire prototype, the project advanced under the strictest secrecy, with a team from 'Skunk Works' producing an airframe in an impressive 143 days. It is reported that two operational sorties were flown by the jet during WWII, however, these were non-combat missions and of a highly classified nature.

Product Info

The development of the Shooting Star leant heavily on early jet technology supplied by the British, as the Americans were lagging behind both Britain and Germany regarding jet propulsion and the discovery of the Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt Me 262 highlighted the need for their own viable jet fighter. Initially developed around the British Halford H.1 engine taken from the de Havilland Vampire prototype, the project advanced under the strictest secrecy, with a team from 'Skunk Works' producing an airframe in an impressive 143 days. The Shooting Star showed great promise during testing, attaining a speed of 500mph in level flight, the first turbojet powered USAAF aircraft to do so.

Produced just too late to see combat during WWII, it is interesting to note that two pre-production Shooting Stars were sent to England during WWII for familiarisation purposes, with a further two sent to Italy with the 1st Fighter Group at Lesina. It is reported that two operational sorties were flown by the jet during WWII, however, these were non-combat missions and of a highly classified nature. The F-80C would be used extensively during the Korean War, where the aircraft would equip ten USAAF fighter/fighter bomber squadrons and one reconnaissance unit, but by then, this elegant early jet was already beginning to be outclassed. By the end of its production run, over 1700 Shooting Stars of all variants had been produced.

Schemes

A02043V - Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star "Saggin Dragon", 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, United States Air Force, Suwon Air Base, South Korea, 1951. (A)

A02043V - Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star 36th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter Bomber Wing, United States Air Force, South Korea, 1951. (B)

Tech Specs
Item Length - Without Packaging (cm)
14.6
Item Height - Without Packaging (cm)
4.79
Item Width - Without Packaging (cm)
16.4
How many pieces will be found in the box opened by the customer?
52
Item Scale
1:72
Contents (what's in the box) sets
Sprues & decals
Finish
Plastic
Number of Scheme options
1
Skill Level
1
Flying Hours
1
Wingspan (mm)
164