Created for the Navy and Congressional oversight, this color film from Lockheed Aircraft reports on the progress of the development of the T2V-1 SeaStar aircraft. The T2V, later called the T-1 SeaStar, was a carrier-capable jet trainer that entered service in May 1957. It was developed from the highly successful Lockheed T-33, and was powered by one Allison J33 jet engine. Compared to the T-33/TV-2, the T2V was almost totally re-engineered for carrier landings and at-sea operations and fitted with a retractable arrestor hook. Unlike other P-80 derivatives, the T2V could withstand the shock of landing on a pitching carrier deck and had a much higher ability to withstand sea water-related aircraft wear from higher humidity and salt exposure.The film dates to circa 1955/1956.

Opening titles: T2V-1 Engineering Progress Report No. 10972, Phase IV, prepared by Lockheed (:08-:24). The T2V-1 SeaStar prototype in the sky, tail #N125D. A full scale mockup of the aircraft’s landing gear system was created in the laboratory at Lockheed’s facility in California. A landing gear wheel wheel comes down and is tested. A man enters a sub-zero degree environmental chamber, dressed in a heavy parka or jacket. Two men examine the arresting gear snubber assembly, subjected to a mechanical test. The T2V-1 prototype is on the runway (:25-2:42). A member of the test team looks at data gathering equipment mounted on the side of the T2V-1. Inside the instrument panel shows angle of attack. Brake steering test. Nose gear steering system. T2V-1 prototype on the tarmac. T2V-1 starts moving. T2V-1 comes in for a landing in slow motion. T2V-1 moves in a circle on the runway (2:43- 4:52). T2V-1 moves slowly and stops as men look under it. Cockpit closes. Thumbs up for takeoff. T2V-1 is hurtled into the sky by catapult system. August 1955, Navy personnel inspect the pre-production mockup. A man leans on the prototype and looks in the cockpit. Fuselage (4:53-6:18). The T2V-1 mockup is sealed. T2V-1 cockpit lighting was carefully designed. Fingers point at the control panel. All lights inside are in red. Mockup tanks are looked at in a laboratory. A man tightens a gauge. Single point fueling diagram is explained (6:19-8:44). Navy personnel look at the mockup. A man explains the T2V-1 escape system, he points at the NAMC Type 1 ejection seat. Close on the seat, its components and buttons to push or pull (8:45-10:50). A man sits on the seat inside the T2V-1 and pulls a handle to eject the seat. A hand pulls a handle on the T2V-1 escape system seat. The T2V-1 escape system seat is tested. The pilot flies through the air in regular and slow motion. Diagram of the seat and its components (10:51-12:32). The escape system seat. The diagram is pointed at. The man stands next to the T2V-1 escape system seat (12:33-13:19). A model of the T2V-1. Technicians, including a woman and an African American worker, assemble the T2V-1. A production line. Fuselage is built in a half shell technique. Half shells are then joined. Rheem Aircraft in Downey, CA puts together the nose of the aircraft. Beech AIrcraft in Kansas is assembling the wings. Cessna Aircraft Company is putting together the fuselage (13:20-15:02). Trucks bring in the pieces. A tail section goes down the line. Workers make components for the plane. Tail section is moved by a crane. Men piece the T2V-1 together. The first T2V-1 is taken to a paint hangar. A finished T2V-1 on the tarmac. Second production of the T2V-1 plane is started. Components are tested individually. Pilot inside the T2V-1 cockpit (15:03-17:08). The T2V-1 taxis on a runway. T2V-1 in the air near snowcapped mountains. T2V-1 flies. T2V-1 as seen from below in the sky (17:09-17:54). End credits (17:55-18:00).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com