I'm rather fascinated by the concept of the 'conversion kit' that the former lockheed engineers who formed 'Skyfox Corp' came up with. According to the only info I can find, the concept was to re-engine and heavily modify existing Lockheed T-33 airframes into a rather sexy jet trainer/ground attack aircraft - to me it looks sort of like an Me262 with tail-mounted engines.
The business model was based on the fact that surplus T-33s were (and maybe still are) quite plentiful, and that by heavily modifying the existing T-33 airframe it was possible to engineer an essentially all-new airplane without having to design and build one from scratch, allowing a capable trainer to be built for half the cost of a new equivalent.
Boeing was impressed with the idea enough to buy the rights to the program, and there was interest from the Portugese and US airforce, but the program seemed to fizzle out... So this is another airplane to put in the book of 'could have been awesome' failed projects.
If anybody out there has any additional info about what went on with the Skyfox program I'd love to hear your stories, but also what other surplus airframes could benefit from a modification kit like what was done with Skyfox?
garnetpalmetto From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5251 posts, RR: 55 Reply 4, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 7632 times:
Quoting TripleDelta (Reply 2): ooks like a cross between a Blackbird and an A-10 (and by that I mean it looks great, but IMHO civilian colors suit it better).
For some reason it reminds me of a cross between an Me-262 and an A-10, especially in that second picture you have there.
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Wingscrubber From UK - England, joined Sep 2001, 835 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 7595 times:
A light twin-jet such as this could have made a great COIN aircraft, although with a MTOW of 20,000lb, less than half of an A-10, it probably would have been limited to light guns and rockets.
But then, there are air forces who would put such as aircraft to great effect, could have been a great value export-aircraft, I puzzle at 'lack of customers'... the IA63 Pampa, Dassault Alphajet and AMX were all coming into service at or after the time this was developed, all in a similar weight and performance category, but all would have been more expensive than the Skyfox, but it wasn't to be...
spudh From Ireland, joined Jul 2009, 279 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 7568 times:
Thats a good looking airplane.
It's one hell of a conversion, with the raised tail I'm really struggling to see any hint of the T-33, even the stance of it is different, as if they've lengthened the front undercarriage too.
DEVILFISH From Philippines, joined Jan 2006, 4450 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (2 years 1 month 3 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 7535 times:
Quoting Wingscrubber (Thread starter):
The business model was based on the fact that surplus T-33s were (and maybe still are) quite plentiful, and that by heavily modifying the existing T-33 airframe it was possible to engineer an essentially all-new airplane without having to design and build one from scratch,
The business case might have been a lot better now, with plenty of competitors proposing clean-sheet business jets, but falling along the wayside after investors lose interest. It would have made an awesome owner-pilot ride!
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29367 posts, RR: 61 Reply 8, posted (2 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 6685 times:
The aircraft did a cameo on an episode of "Airwolf"
It was supposed to be some new fancy air force fighter and the pilot was suffering from the manchurian canidate syndrome from nam was going to steal it and give it the soviets.
Needless to say String and Dominic prevented that from happening.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
trigged From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 497 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 1 month 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 6644 times:
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(and by that I mean it looks great, but IMHO civilian colors suit it better).
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