Lockheed L-133
| L-133 "Starjet" | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Corporation |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Forces |
The Lockheed L-133 was an exotic design started in 1939 which was proposed to be the first jet
Development
The
Throughout World War II, the development of a jet-powered fighter had the potential to bring a decisive advantage in the air battles of the war; as history played out, only Germany built significant numbers of jet fighters before the war ended, but they reached service in the Luftwaffe too late to make a difference.
On 30 March 1942, Lockheed formally submitted the L-133-02-01 to the USAAF for consideration.[1] Powered by two L-1000 turbojets and featuring a futuristic-appearing canard design with slotted flaps to enhance lift, the single-seat fighter was expected to have a top speed of 612 mph (985 km/h) in level flight,[1] but a range of only 310 miles (500 km) [2]
The L-133 had a main wing shape that was essentially identical to the outer wing sections of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. In many respects the L-133 was far ahead of its time, with futuristic features including:
- canard layout;
- blended wing-body planform; and,
- two engines in a very low-drag integral fuselage location.
The USAAF considered the L-133 to be too advanced for the time, and did not pursue the project.[1] The experience gained with the design served Lockheed well in the development of the USAAF's first operational jet fighter, the P-80 Shooting Star. Although entering combat service after the war had ended, the P-80 was less advanced than the L-133. Because the USAAF didn't give the L-133 project the go-ahead, the advanced engines intended for the L-133 had long pauses in their development. The most expedient engine choice for the P-80 thus became the Allison J33, based on British centrifugal compressor designs. The P-80 was a cheap-to-build single-engine aircraft with a conventional wing and tailplane design, not using the blended wing-body and canard layout of the L-133.
Specifications (L-133-02-01)
Data from [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 48 ft 4 in (14.73 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft 8 in (14.22 m)
- Wing area: 325 sq ft (30.194 m2)
- Powerplant: 2 × Lockheed L-1000 axial-flow turbojets , 5,100 lbf (23 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 625 mph (985 km/h, 543 kn)
Armament
- 4 × 20mm nose-mounted cannon
See also
- Planes That Never Flew
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of fighter aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
References
Notes
- ^ a b c Norton 2008, p. 221
- ^ "America's First Jet Fighter". Planes That Never Flew. Season 1. Episode 3. 2003. Discovery Channel. Retrieved 15 December 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ Francillon 1982, p. 468
Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. (1982). Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam & Company. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.
- Norton, Bill. U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58007-109-3.
External links
