CT-133 Silver Star

The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star, common called the the “T-Bird,” was a key training aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the 1950s and into the 1980s. Built under license from Lockheed, Canadair built the CT-133 as a modified version of the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, powered by the Rolls Royce “Nene” turbojet engine. It served as a transition aircraft between basic trainers (e.g., Harvards) and high-performance jet aircraft (CF-101 Voodoos and CF-104 Starfighters). It was a trainer for many generations of Canadian pilots and prepared them for combat tactics and squadron operations.

Its versatility and reliability made it a mainstay at training stations like CFB Moose Jaw, CFB Gimli and . Beyond its training role, the T-Bird served as an electronic scoring target in simulated dogfights with CF-18 fighter jets, showcasing its adaptability even in its advanced years.

The CT-133 on display at our museum is a Mk. 3 was retired from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, where it was used as an ejection seat testbed for a number of years.