Have a behind the scenes look at our work transforming ex-Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair CT-133 #133346, into a unique aviation memento.
The Plane Chains team is excited to release our latest product after months of hard work. As a Canadian company, we couldn’t imagine a better aircraft to work on than the renowned Canadair CT-133 Silverstar.
The Canadair CT-133 Silverstar was a single engine jet trainer. It was the Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33 trainer. The CT-133 had its first flight in 1952, and was first delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1953. The CT-133 had initially served as a training platform to train fighter and interceptor pilots. Although the CT-133 was retired from it’s training role in the mid-1970s, it continued to operate on behalf of the Royal Canadian Air Force until it's official retirement in 2005. A handful of ex-Royal Canadian Air Force CT-133s were sold to other air forces, and private owners across North America and Europe. Today these CT-133s continue to fly, some of which regularly attend airshows, others continue to be restored to airworthy condition.
Photo Credit: Jet Aircraft Museum
Our CT-133; 133346 was first delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1954 as “21346”. In 1970, it was reserialled as 133346. Throughout its time with the Royal Canadian Air Force, 133346 served across Canada with a multitude of Squadrons including:
1st Advanced Flying School in Saskatoon
2nd Advanced Flying School
2nd Canadian Forces Flying Training School in Portage La Prairie
1st Flying Training School, 439 Combat Support Squadron in Bagotville
414 Combat Support Squadron,
417 Combat Support Squadron in Cold Lake.
Following its service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, 133346 was sold to the Jet Aircraft Museum, based in London, Ontario.
In 2021, the Plane Chains team was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to save parts of 133346 from the scrap yard and upcycled this piece of Canadian aviation history into unique pocket sized mementos.
Our production process begins with cutting skin from various parts of the aircraft. This edition of Plane Chains is made from parts of the mid fuselage, wings and tip-tanks of 133346. Once appropriately sized sections are cut from the aircraft, the material is stamped into our unique shape.
Stamped keychains are then polished and prepared for the lasering process. Each keychain features a laser etched design including the name and diagram of the CT-133, the registration, and unique serial number.
Keychains are then given another cleaning before the keyring is attached, and the keychain is affixed to the packaging via steel wire.
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