TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | Canadair CT-133 Silver Star The T-33 was the only jet at this year’s event.
Each image from TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Reunion 2024. I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.
TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story This year’s TBM Avenger Reunion was graced with really good weather and a large crowd. As usual, the event was a great way to start airshow season in the Midwest
TBM Avenger Run-up The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber. Those designated TBM were actually manufactured by General Motors. It has a crew of three; pilot, gunner, and radio operator / bombardier. Avengers are powered by a 1,900 hp Wright R-200-20 radial engine. Its armament includes two .50-in. forward-firing machine guns; one .50-in. dorsal gun; one .30-in. ventral gun.; 2,000 lb. bomb/torpedo load. Also it’s capable of carrying the Norden bombsight. Developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, it entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Although five Avengers were lost at Midway, it became one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of the war and remained in service until the 1960s after several modifications.
TBM Avenger Wings Retracted The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber with folding wings for operations off of aircraft carriers. DC-3 Landing The airshow parachutists departed from this Douglas DC-3 to open the airshow at the TBM Avenger Reunion 2024. A-1 Skyraider The A-1 Skyraider was designed during WWII and entered service in December 1946. It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft and as one of the Skyraider’s most famous roles: the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations. Its pilots and crews bestowed many names on the Skyraider including Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Zorro, and Firefly. T-6 Aerobatics The T-6 Texan makes a nice aerobatic machine. This image was captured looking straight up. T-6/SNJ Texan The North American T-6 Texan is a military single-engine aircraft primarily used as a trainer. Its first flight was on April 1st, 1935. Nearly 16,000 planes were built. The T-6 Texan was used extensively during WWII and the Korean conflict. Canadair CT-133 Silver Star The T-33 was the only jet at this year’s event.
| TBM Avenger Specifications |
| Length: 40 ft., 11 in. Height: 16 ft., 5 in. Wingspan: 54 ft., 2 in. Wing area: 490 sq. ft. |
| Max Speed: 276 mph at 16,500 ft. Cruise Speed: 147 mph Climb Rate: 2,060 ft./min. Ceiling: 30,100 ft. Range: 1,010 miles |
| Empty: 10,545 lb. Maximum: 17,895 lb. |
Each image from TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Reunion 2024. I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.
Click any image below for a slide show.
T-33 Shooting Stars Taxiing It’s amazing to me, but some folks go to air shows just for the jets. In fact, some go only for top of the line military jets. These trainers might not get as many clicks as the fighters. Still, you can almost smell the kerosene.
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star The T-33 Shooting Star, a two-seat version of the USAF’s first jet fighter, the F-80 Shooting Star, was the most widely used jet trainer in the world and continues to serve in various armed forces today. It entered service during the 1950s and was the USAFs first jet trainer.
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, T-Bird, jet trainer made the trip to OshKosh last year.
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, T-Bird, jet trainer made its first flight in 1948. With a crew of two, its service ceiling is 48,000 feet while cruising at 396 knots. As well as serving as a trainer, it served in numerous roles in the Navy and Air Force until being retired in 1997.
