Kelowna Flightcraft is hoping to offer surplus Canadian Forces Lockheed T-33s for upgrade and resale to third countries. The company is upgrading 23 of Canada's 45 CT-33s for use in electronic-warfare training, and wants to market surplus aircraft to existing T-33 operators planning to upgrade and replenish their fleets.
Based on the avionics update developed for the Canadian aircraft, British Columbia-based Kelowna Flightcraft won a contract to perform a more extensive upgrade on 18 Bolivian air force T-33s, with work to begin this year.
The company estimates there are still over 300 T-33s in service and eligible for upgrading. Major operators of the aircraft include Greece, Mexico, Turkey and Uruguay. Paraguay has lost some of its T-33s and would like to replenish its fleet with up to 10 aircraft, Flightcraft says.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg-based Bristol Aerospace is continuing efforts to remarket Northrop F-5s which have been upgraded, but retired, by the Canadian Forces.
Most recently, the USNavy evaluated the upgraded CF-5 as a potential replacement for its F-5 aggressor aircraft. Bristol believes that the surplus Canadian aircraft could be an interim solution to the Navy's requirement.
Source: Flight International
