02/15/2023. Remarks by
Johan Visschedijk: "The conversion of the original Model 080 P-80 Shooting Star jet fighter into the Model 780 F-94 two-seat all-weather radar-equipped fighter began in 1949. The work was simplified by that already done in the development of the basic design into the Model 580 TP-80C two-seat jet trainer, which became well-known as the
T-33.
Color copy of photo above (
Johan Visschedijk Collection)
(48-373) (
Aubry Gratton Collection)
Two Model 580 TP-80C-1-LOs, serialed
48-356 and 48-373 were modified as all-weather fighter prototypes and were initially designated Model 780 ETF-80C, changing to ET-33A when the TF-80C became T-33A on January 1, 1949.
First flown from Van Nuys airport, California, USA, on April 16, 1949, by Tony LeVier and Glenn Fulkerson. The first seventeen production models were designated F-94A, so the two prototypes, 48-356 and 48-373 unofficially became known as YF-94."
