P-80 Jet Jockey – A Newbie Mustang Pilot Discovers the Jet Age

The Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star was the zenith of American fighter designs before the swept-wing revolution that followed. Claiming a top speed of 558mph and a cruising speed of 410mph—both substantially higher than the numbers posted by the piston-engine Mustang—the Shooting Star was an exciting advancement for fighter pilots of the postwar era. (Photo from Frederick A. Johnsen, courtesy of AFFTC/HO Gene Furnish Collection)

In the early summer of 1948, in the skies of Arizona, 19-year-old Air Force cadet Roy Ihde had just survived the rigors of AT-6 Texan training and was about to perform his final F-51 Mustang training mission with the rest of single-engine pilot school Class 48B. P-80 Shooting Star pilot Roy Ihde. (Photo courtesy of James P. Busha) Jet Flying Foundation There I was: about to graduate from Aviation Cadets in...

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All the stories featured in Flight Journal are as unique and varied as the airplanes and warriors who flew them. From popular warbirds like the P-51 Mustang and Me 109 to the Lockheed SR-71 and futuristic hypersonic fighters, we cover the whole spectrum of aviation. We’ve heard from countless readers over the years about how much they enjoy the compelling stories and beautiful photography.