Lockheed JetStar

JetStar
An Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force JetStar in service with Government of Iran
Role	Transport
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation
First flight	4 September 1957
Retired	United States Air Force 1990s
Status	Active
Primary users	United States Air Force (historical) Mexican Air Force Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Produced	1961–1980[1]
Number built	202[1]
Unit cost	US$2.8M (1972)[2]

The Lockheed JetStar (company designations L-329 and L-1329; designated C-140 in US military service) is a business jet produced from the early 1960s to the 1970s. The JetStar was the first dedicated business jet to enter service. It was also one of the largest aircraft in the class for many years, seating ten plus two crew. It is distinguishable from other small jets by its four engines, mounted on the rear of the fuselage, and the "slipper"-style fuel tanks fixed to the wings.

Design and development

The prototype L-329 twin-engine JetStar, operated by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, at Washington DCA airport in 1972

Lockheed VC-140B. The bare metal on the fin at the trim hinge is easily visible here.

An Air Force Communications Service C-140A facilities checking aircraft displayed at the 1963 Paris Air Show

A Cayman Islands-registered Jetstar 731 in France in 2011

The Dryden C-140 JetStar during testing of advanced propfan designs

The JetStar originated as a private project within Lockheed, with an eye to winning a United States Air Force (USAF) requirement that was later dropped due to budget cuts. Lockheed decided to continue the project on its own for the business market.^[3]

The first two prototypes were equipped with two Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engines, the first of these flying on 4 September 1957. The second of these was also equipped with the wing-mounted "slipper tanks", which was originally to be an option. Lockheed attempted to arrange a contract to produce the Orpheus in the US, but when these negotiations failed it re-engined the second prototype with four Pratt & Whitney JT12s in 1959. The slipper tanks were removed and placed on the first prototype. The JT12 fit proved successful and was selected for the production versions, the first of which flew in mid 1960.^[4] These versions entered commercial service in 1961.

The JetStar has a fairly typical business jet design layout, with a swept wing and a cruciform tail. The wing has a 30° sweepback and features large fuel tanks at about half-span, extending some distance in front and behind the wing. The wings hold 10,000 pounds of fuel, and each slipper tank holds 4,000 pounds of fuel for a total fuel load of 18,000 pounds. The wing also includes leading edge flaps (not slats) along the front of the wing outboard of the tanks (these leading edge flaps reduce the stalling speed by an additional three knots), while double-slotted trailing edge flaps span the entire rear surface inboard of the ailerons. The wing incorporates inflatable rubber deicing boots for the removal of accumulated inflight ice. The horizontal stabilizer is mounted nearly halfway up the fin to keep it clear of the engines' jet blast. One feature is that the horizontal stabilizer is trimmable by pivoting the entire tail fin and stabilizer assembly, which has a distinctive unpainted area at the base of the fin that is noticeable in most pictures. The JetStar does not have any tail deicing capability, nor was it required for certification. A speed brake is located on the underside of the fuselage to aid deceleration for landing. The original prototypes used a tricycle landing gear with one wheel per leg, but after an accident in 1962 the nose gear was modified with two tires.^[5]

The JetStar is a relatively heavy aircraft for its class, at 44,500 lb (19,278 kg). Maximum cruising speed is Mach 0.8, or 567 mph (912 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,401 m). Range is typically quoted as 2,500 mi (4,023 km) with a 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) payload. Typically, interiors feature seating for eight with a full-sized lavatory, or a slightly denser arrangement for ten. The JetStar is one of the few aircraft of its class which allow a person to walk upright in the cabin, although to do this the aisle is sunk slightly so that the seats are raised on either side.^[6] The windows are relatively large.

Noise regulations in the United States and high fuel consumption led to the development of the 731 JetStar, a modification program which added new Garrett TFE731 turbofan engines with a number of detail changes. It has redesigned larger external fuel tanks that sit with their upper surfaces flush with the wing, rather than being centered on it. The cockpit area has a somewhat more "modern" looking nose and window arrangement. The 731 JetStar modification program was so successful that Lockheed produced 40 new JetStars, designated the JetStar II, from 1976 to 1979. The JetStar IIs were factory-new aircraft with the turbofan engines and revised external fuel tanks. Both 731 JetStars and JetStar IIs have greatly increased range, reduced noise, and better runway performance compared to the original JetStars.

JetStar production totaled 204 aircraft by final delivery in 1978.^[5] Most original JetStars have been retired, but many 731 JetStars and JetStar IIs are still flying in various roles, mainly as corporate and private jets.

Operational history

The first prototype served as the personal transport of Lockheed's Vice President of Advanced Development Projects Kelly Johnson for some time. Elvis Presley owned two JetStars at different times; the second was named Hound Dog II and is on display at Graceland. Frank Sinatra also owned one.

Sixteen JetStars were produced for the USAF; Five C-140As were flight inspection aircraft for the Air Force Communications Service and were used to perform airborne testing of airport navigational aids (navaids) from 1962 onwards. They began service during the Vietnam War and remained in service until the early 1990s. The "Flight Check" C-140As were combat-coded aircraft that could be distinguished from the VIP transport version by their distinctive paint scheme. The C-140As were deployed to southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, where, in addition to their more usual navaid testing, they would loiter off the coast and act as communications relays between the Pentagon and the battlefield.^[7] The last C-140A to be retired was placed on static display at Scott AFB, Illinois.

An additional eleven airframes were designated C-140B, although the first of these predated the C-140As when it was delivered in 1961. The C-140Bs were used to transport personnel by the Military Airlift Command. Six of the aircraft were operated as VIP transports by the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base. These VIP aircraft were designated as VC-140Bs. Members of the VIP transport fleet occasionally served as Air Force One during the 1970s and 1980s. Several other countries, such as Germany and Canada, have used military JetStars as transports for their heads of state, heads of government, and other VIPs.

Variants

JetStar I

Business, executive transport aircraft, with accommodation for a crew of two and ten passengers, powered by four 3,300 lbf (14.7 kN) thrust Pratt & Whitney JT12A-8 turbojet engines.

JetStar II

New production version, powered by four 3,700 lbf (16.5 kN) thrust Garrett TFE731-3 turbofan engines, and fitted with revised external fuel tanks, 40 built.

JetStar 731

Modified version, fitted with four Garrett TFE731-1 turbofan engines, and equipped with redesigned external fuel tanks.

C-140A

Flight inspection aircraft for the US Air Force, similar to the JetStar I, five built.

C-140B

Passenger, cargo transport aircraft for the US Air Force, similar to the C-140A, five built.

VC-140B

VIP transport aircraft for the US Air Force, similar to the C-140B, six built.

C-140C

Two JetStar 6s were ordered by the United States Navy, originally designated UV-1, but not delivered.

T-40

US military designation for a proposed trainer version of the C-140 for evaluation, not built.

AAI FanStar

Conversion by American Aviation Industries with two General Electric CF34 engines in place of the four JT12 turbojets or TFE731 turbofans which first flew on 5 September 1986.^[8] Only one aircraft was converted.

Operators

Accidents and incidents

• On January 5, 1995 an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) JetStar crashed during an emergency landing, killing all 12 on board including General Mansour Sattari, commander of the IRIAF.

Aircraft on display

Elvis Presley's Lockheed JetStar.

VC-140B at the USAF Museum

Canada

• C-FDTF Jetstar 6 – The Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum has a Jetstar that was used by the Canadian Prime Minister and other government officials.^[17]
• C-FDTX Jetstar 6 – The Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, has an L-1329 Jetstar 6 that the Department of Transport used to carry government officials and foreign dignitaries.^[18]

Indonesia

• A-1645 Jetstar 6 – The Dirgantara Mandala Museum in Yogyakarta, near Adisucipto International Airport, has an ex-Indonesian Air Force VVIP Squadron C-140 JetStar in the Display Hangar, named "Pancasila"

Mexico

• XA-ROK Jetstar 8 - Hospital Espanol, Mexico City.
• 3908 Jetstar 8 Mexican Air Foce - Museo de la Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, Santa Lucia Air Base.

United States

• N175MD Jetstar II – The Miami Auto Museum in North Miami, Florida has a complete JetStar on display inside the museum.^[19][20]
• N329J – The prototype JetStar is undergoing restoration at the Museum of Flight's Restoration Center in Everett, Washington.^[21] This aircraft is one of only two JetStars with only two engines.
• N428DA Jetstar 6 - Marietta Museum of History, Georgia.
• N711Z Jetstar - On pylon display in false USAF marking as 89-001 near Base Operations and the AMC Air Terminal at Andrews AFB, Maryland.^[22]
• N777EP - A JetStar owned by Elvis Presley in his later years, named Hound Dog II, is on display at Graceland, Memphis Tennessee.^[23] This is one of two Jetstars owned by Elvis Presley and/or his family.
• N377SA Jetstar II - Pacific Coast Air Museum, California.
• 61-2400 – The Museum of Aviation next to Robins Air Force Base has a VC-140B on display.^[24]
• N814NA - Former NASA Jetstar is on display at the Joe Davies Heritage Park, Palmdale, California.
• XB-DUH Jetstar 8 - At the entrance to Dodson International Parts in Rantoul, Kansas in false Mexican markings.^[25]
• 59-5959 C-140A - In the Scott Field Heritage Air Park at Scott AFB, Illinois (59-5959).^[26][27]
• 61-2489 C-140B – Pima Air and Space Museum, adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona.^[28]
• 61-2490 VC-140B - President Lyndon Johnson's JetStar is on display at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.^[29][30]
• 61-2492 VC-140B - In the Presidential Aircraft collection of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.^[31][32]
• 62-4197 C-140B - Pima Air & Space Museum, Arizona.
• 62-4200 C-140B - Pima Air & Space Museum. Arizona.
• 62-4201 C-140B - Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah, this was confirmed by former members of the 89th SAM from Andrews Air Force Base to have carried President Johnson and his wife.^[33]

Specifications (JetStar II)

Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913^[34]

General characteristics

• Crew: two pilots & typically one flight attendant
• Capacity: 8–10 passengers
• Length: 60 ft 5 in (18.41 m)
• Wingspan: 54 ft 5 in (16.59 m)
• Height: 20 ft 5 in (6.22 m)
• Wing area: 542.5 ft² (50.4 m²)
• Empty weight: 24,750 lb (11,226 kg)
• Loaded weight: 41,535 lb (18,840 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 44,500 lb (20,185 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × Garrett TFE731-3^[35] turbofan, 3,700 lbf (16.5 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 547 mph (476 knots, 883 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,145 m)
• Cruise speed: 504 mph (438 knots, 811 km/h)
• Range: 2,995 mi (2,604 nmi, 4,820 km)
• Service ceiling: 43,000 ft (13,105 m)
• Rate of climb: 4,150 ft/min (21.1 m/s)

Notable appearances in media

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• British Aerospace 125
• Gulfstream III
• Learjet 25
• McDonnell 119
• North American Sabreliner

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lockheed L-1329.