QF-80C Shooting Star Crash Site

January 25th 2016





Summery :

 The Lockheed QF-80 was the project Bad Boy F-80 conversions by Sperry Gyroscope to target drones. The armament was all removed and radio control equipment was installed. From 1951 through 1954, total of 77 F-80 had converted to QF-80.
This QF-80C (#45-8301) was originally built as P-80A in 1945, later modified to F-80C then converted to QF-80 in 1951.
On April 15th 1955, three QF-80s were used for nuclear test Operation Teapot MET shot. Three QF-80s flew different altitude over the neclear blast for examining the shockwave effect to the aircraft.
The low-level (3800ft above the shot tower) QF-80C (#45-8301) was badly damaged. Both tip tanks were gone, the elevator, stabilizers and ailerons were damaged and there was some heat damage evident on the drone lower surface.
It crashed down on the steep hillside en route to the emergency landing strip.
Two other QF-80s didn't get damage from the neclear blast, but damaged at landing.


    
Description



Manufacturer:
Lockheed Corporation
Base model:
QF-80
Version:
C
Nickname:
Shooting Star
Designation System:
U.S.Air Force
Production Period:
1951-1962
Basic role:
target drone
Serial Number:
45-8301
Year built:
1945
Year converted:
1951
Crash Date:
1955/4/15
Cause of Crash:
Uncontrollable Damage from Nuclear Blast
Fatalities:
0




Specifications



Length:
34' 5" 10.49 m
Height:
11' 3" 3.43 m
Wingspan:
38' 9" 11.81 m
Wingarea:
237.6 sq ft 22.07 sq m
Empty Weight:
8,420 lb 3,819 kg
Max Takeoff Weight:
16,856 lb 7,646 kg





Propulsion



No. of Engines:
1
Powerplant:
Allison J33-A-35 centrifugal compressor turbojet
Thrust:
5,400 lbf with water injection





Performance



Max Speed:
600 mph 965 km/h Mach 0.76
Ceiling:
46,000 ft 14,000 m
Range:
1,200 miles 1,930 km





Unit Cost:
$110,000


    
Other QF-80 Link :
 Wikipedia Link : Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
 Wikipedia Link : Operation Teapot
 Wikipedia Link : Operation Teapot Youtube
    



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