With the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (FAB,
Bolivian Air Force) withdrawing its last
examples of the Lockheed AT/T-33 Shooting
Star from service on July 31, the military
career of one of the most important jet
trainers in history has nally come to a
close. The T-33 was introduced to FAB
service in 1973 in the form of 18 former
Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair T-33A/N
Silver Stars, and in 1985 it received a
further 18 T-33SC and T-33SF aircraft from
surplus French stocks. All the surviving
Bolivian T-33s were upgraded by Kelowna
Flightcraft in Canada during the late 1990s
and early 2000s. The last military squadron
to operate the T-33 was Escuadrón de
Caza 311, part of the Grupo Aéreo de Caza
(GAC) 31 at El Alto Airport. The FAB’s
T-33s were retired without replacement.
Juan Carlos Cicalesi
RAF Poseidon Squadrons Announced
The identities of the RAF’s two frontline
P-8A Poseidon units were announced
by UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael
Fallon during an address at the Air Power
Conference 2017 in London on July 13.
These will be 120 and 201 Squadrons,
both based at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland.
The rst is due to stand up in April 2018
under the command of Wg Cdr James
Hanson. The rst of nine P-8s will arrive
in the UK in 2020. No.201 Squadron will
form in 2021.
In related news, the MOD is
examining the Poseidon as a candidate
to replace the Sentinel R1 in the overland
wide-area surveillance role, as the RAF
Sentinel eet is planned for retirement
in 2021.
Two Boeing 737 MAX 8s were handed
over to low-cost carrier Norwegian during
a ceremony at the manufacturer’s Boeing
Field facility, near Seattle. Washington, on
June 29. The jets, EI-FYA (c/n 42830) and
EI-FYB (c/n 42826), are the rst of their kind
in Europe.
Bjørn Kjos, Norwegian’s CEO said:
“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the delivery of
the Boeing 737 MAX, and we are overjoyed
to have them join our eet today.”
“We’re the rst European airline to
operate this brand new aircraft, and we’re
also the rst airline in the world to operate it
to and from the United States” he added. [It]
allows us to open up new, unserved routes
and offer Americans and Europeans even
more affordable transatlantic fares.”
Meanwhile, the carrier has con rmed the
late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury will
become its latest British ‘tail n hero’. The
rock legend’s portrait will feature on two
aircraft, a 787 Dreamliner and a 737-800,
later this year.
4 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2017
HEADLINES
Boeing 737 MAX Makes European Debut
One of two Boeing 737 MAX 8s recently
handed over to low-cost carrier Norwegian at
Boeing Field on June 29. Boeing
The Bolivian Air Force rst received the T-
in 1973. This air arm was the last military
operator of the T-33. It retired the type on
July 31. Santiago Rivas.
Bolivia Retires its T-33s
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