Lockheed P-80R
This was a high-speed variant of the standard
P-80A Shooting Star. On June 19, 1947, at Muroc Army Air Field (now
Edwards Air Force Base), California, Col. Albert Boyd flew this
P-80R to a new world’s speed record of 623.753 mph, returning
the record to the United States after nearly 24 years.
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The P-80R pictured here is the only one built. It had a smaller
canopy than the standard P-80A Shooting Star, redesigned air intakes
and a shorter wing with an extended leading edge. It was shipped
to the museum from Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, in October
1954.
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