P-80A Shooting Star

The Lockheed P‑80A Shooting Star was the United States’ first operational jet fighter, entering service in 1945 after development began in 1942. Designed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson’s Skunk Works team, the aircraft featured a sleek, all‑metal airframe with a single Allison J33‑3 turbo‑jet producing 4,600 pounds of thrust, a fully retractable tricycle landing gear, and a bubble canopy that gave pilots excellent visibility. Its armament typically consisted of six .50‑caliber machine guns mounted in the nose, and later versions could carry rockets or bombs for ground‑attack missions.

The P‑80A saw limited combat in the closing weeks of World War II, but its real impact arrived during the Korean War, where it served alongside more advanced MiG‑15s, proving the viability of jet‑propelled air combat for the U.S. Air Force. The Shooting Star also pioneered many operational procedures, pilot training programs, and maintenance practices that shaped subsequent jet designs such as the F‑86 Sabre. Its introduction marked a decisive shift from propeller‑driven fighters to jet‑age dominance, cementing Lockheed’s reputation as a leading aerospace innovator. A total of 1,714 units were built, and the aircraft remains a celebrated museum exhibit worldwide.