XP-80 Shooting Star

The XP-80 Shooting Star, Lockheed’s first jet fighter prototype, marked the United States’ entry into the jet age during World War II. Designed in 1943 under a rapid development program, the aircraft made its maiden flight on 8 January 1944, proving the viability of turbo‑jet propulsion for combat. Powered by an Allison J33‑A‑35 centrifugal‑flow engine delivering 4,600 lbf of thrust, the sleek, low‑wing design featured a bubble canopy, retractable tricycle landing gear and a thin, sharply tapered wing that gave it a top speed of roughly 600 mph (965 km/h). Armament consisted of six .50‑caliber machine guns mounted in the nose, and the prototype’s internal fuel capacity allowed a range of about 1,200 miles.

Although the XP‑80 never entered combat, its successful flight tests accelerated production of the P‑80 series, the first operational American jet fighter. The aircraft’s streamlined aerodynamics and jet engine integration set standards for subsequent designs such as the F‑86 Sabre. By demonstrating reliable jet performance, the XP‑80 helped shift U.S. air strategy from propeller‑driven aircraft to high‑speed jet platforms, cementing Lockheed’s reputation as a leading jet‑age manufacturer. Its legacy influenced not only fighter design but also early jet bomber concepts, underscoring its pivotal role in post‑war aviation development.