NT-33A
Abstract
This document is a historical document for the NT-33A. Key Points about the USAF NT-33A: In-flight Simulator Aircraft Airframe was built in 1951 by Lockheed as a jet trainer. In 1954-57 Cornell Aeronautical Lab modified the aircraft into a research aircraft used for flight control and handling qualities research. The most obvious modification includes installation of an F-94 nose to hold the additional electronics. The front cockpit was modified to have fly-by-wire controls that can be changed in-flight to simulate other aircraft flight characteristics. The front cockpit is also equipped with a side stick and a programmable Head-up Display. Since its original modification it has been updated numerous times and is still being used for flight control system research. One of its first programs was to simulate the re-entry flight characteristics of the X-15. It was used to simulate the YF-16, YF-17, F-18, A-9, A-10, and YF-22 before they flew for the first time. Nearly every test pilot trained in the U.S. military from 1963 to 1994 has flown this aircraft. In April of this year it completed its last assignment at Edwards AFB where it completed two research projects on the flight characteristics of advanced aircraft. Later this year it will be inducted into the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB. A suggested narrative for the fly-over is: "This highly modified T-33 jet trainer is used to simulate new experimental airplanes. It has an F-94 nose section to house the computers and electronics. Its front cockpit was one of the earliest "fly-by-wire" set of controls. Some of its projects include the X-15 during the early 60's and the F-22 in the early 90's. It is still in use today for research and is the oldest actively flying Air Force aircraft."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 21, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1168491
Entities
People
- Steven R. Markman
Organizations
- Air Force Test Center