Lockheed T-33 vs. Lockheed T-33 In The Skies Above Central America

Out of five T-33As the FAS inherited from the former FAGN, in 1979, at least two remained operational by 1987. One of them was last seen in derelict condition at the dump of Mangaua IAP, but still wearing clearly visible remnants of what appears to have been a five-colour camouflage pattern, in light and dark sand, light grey-blue, and two green colours. While on the available photographs of this wreck only the serial applied on the top of the fin in black (173) and the fin flash bellow it can be seen, photographs of another T-33A apparently taken at the same dump show also that the full Sandinista roundel was applied as well. Wether this was the case with "173" remains unknown. Interestingly, although there were time and again reports that the FAS still had at least two T-33As in service well into the 1980s, there are no reports about their combat deployments, and from narratives of former US mercenaries flying transports for Contras, it seems that they were never especially concerned about the possibility of being intercepted by any of Nicaraguan T-33s.

Another popular type within the FAGN became the Lockheed T-33A, the first - and so far the only - fighter jet in Nicaraguan service. The T-33s participated intensively in the fighting against the Sandinistas, during the 1960s and 1970s. Five airframes fell into Sandinista hands, in 1979, and at least two remained operational by the mid-1980s, offering the FAS at least a minimum of fast-jet capability. The example seen here, serialled 303, was last seen at Managua, in the late 1970s.