Bolivia 31jul17: world's last operational T-33 jets retired.

[Stratofreighter]

...yes, these "T-birds" have Rolls Royce engines and were manufactured in Canada...

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Bolivia dismisses the last T-33 in service from around the world

Farewell Ceremony of the CT-133 of the Bolivian Air Force. Photo: Agencia Boliviana de Información.

02/08/2017

The Bolivian Air Force ( FAB ) has deactivated four Canadair CT-133 Silver Star ( T-33 ) training and attack aircraft at an event held on July 31 at facilities at Hunting Air Group No. 31 , located at El Aereal Air Base High , bordering the city of La Paz.

The FAB is the last user of the T-33A / CT-133 in the world.

"Our T-33s say goodbye and always cause pain,
but that is the task of technology,
to end their service and fire them," said President Evo Morales , who was present at the event.

The disembarked aircraft were part of a batch of at least 20 CT-133 Silver Star (variants Mk.III, AN, SC, 2000 ) purchased second-hand in Canada from 1973.

The Canadair CT-133 Silver Star is the Canadian-made version of the American Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star , a model that made its first flight in 1948, and which in turn is a derivative of the F-80C fighter .

The CT-133s were the first jet aircraft incorporated by the Bolivian Air Force, in conjunction with a North American F-86F Saber donated by the Venezuelan Air Force .

In Latin America, T-33A / CT-1 33 served in the air forces of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

The possible successor

With the removal of the CT-133 , the only combat-capable jet model in the FAB's inventory is the Hongdu K-8 Karakorum lightweight trainer / attack, of which there are six units.

President Morales, in highlighting the history of the T-33 in Bolivia, pledged to take steps to continue equipping the FAB. "I do not know if it's a goodbye toast, but also a toast to continue to acquire equipment," he said.

FAB general commander, air division general Erwin Bonilla Castellón , announced at the CT-133 retreat ceremony that he will present a project for the acquisition of advanced Yakolev Yak-130 light-attack aircraft , Of Russian manufacture.

[Stratofreighter]

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The Bolivian Air Force’s (FAB’s) Grupo Aéreo de Caza 31, based in La Paz, retired the last four operational Lockheed/Canadair T-33s on 31 July 2017 after 44 years in service as the FAB’s main jet trainer and light attack aircraft.

Bolivia’s T-33 Mk3 aircraft were first purchased from Canada in August 1973, and later supplemented with former French aircraft.
These were overhauled and modernised by a Canadian firm in the early 2000s in order to extend service life by another 15 years.
They were the last of the type in known military service.

Eighteen aircraft were modernised with digital avionics and new weapons systems,
with nine units remaining operational by late 2015.

Earlier withdrawals from service – as critical components expired – led the air force to disband Grupo Aéreo de Caza 32 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

During a 31 July 2017 ceremony,
which was attended by the armed forces´ high command, Bolivian president Evo Morales noted “the T-33 has prepared many pilots” and the country “will not remain arms-crossed, we will continue to acquire, equip our armed forces”.