Lockheed JetStar explained

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, as well as the only such airplane built by Lockheed. 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.

Development

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.[1]

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 outer engines were mounted beside the inner ones, an arrangement that was later used on the Vickers VC10 and Ilyushin Il-62 airliners. 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.[2] These versions entered commercial service in 1961.

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.[3] 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.

Design

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 ice accumulated in flight. 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.

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.[4] The windows are relatively large.

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. Additionally, one JetStar belonged to U.S. President Richard Nixon, then to the Shah of Iran and finally, to Puerto Rican boy band Menudo.

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.[5] 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 (tail numbers 61-2488, 61-2489, 61-2490, 61-2491, 61-2492 and 61-2493) were operated as VIP transports by the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base. These VIP aircraft were designated as VC-140Bs. During the presidency of Jimmy Carter, he used a dedicated VC-140B extensively for short trips and it was known within the Special Air Missions Wing as "Peanut One." Upon retirement, one airframe (#89001) was placed on a static pedestal in front of the Joint Base Andrews air terminal. 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.

The last operational JetStar (N313JS) was retired in December 2019, and is now preserved at the Aviation History & Technology Center in Marietta, GA.[6] However, in November 2020, a Jetstar II (N700RM) was flown from Texas to Oregon.[7] That particular aircraft will be disassembled in Klamath Falls. In December 2020, another Jetstar II (N710RM) was also ferried from Conroe, Texas to Klamath Falls, Oregon.[8]

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. Only one aircraft was converted. The work on the interior of the demonstrator was the subject of litigation in federal court in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[9]

    Operators

    Civil operators

    Algeria
    Iraq
    Mexico
    Puerto Rico
    United States

    Military and government operators

    Canada
    West Germany
    Indonesia
    Iran
    Iraq
    Kuwait
    Libya
    Lithuania
    Mexico
    Saudi Arabia
    United States

    Accidents and incidents

    Aircraft on display

    Canada
    Indonesia
    Mexico
    United Kingdom
    United States

    References

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: JetStar 6 . 2007-06-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080403101018/http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/artifacts/aircraft/LockheedL-1329Jetstar6.shtml . 2008-04-03 . dead .
    2. Web site: The Lockheed JetStar. Airliners.net. Demand Media, Inc.. 16 January 2016.
    3. Web site: Bogash. Robert A.. Jetstar History. Welcome to Trains, Planes, and....... Robert A. Bogash. 16 January 2016.
    4. Web site: Loftin. Laurence K.. Representative Aircraft Types. NASA. 16 January 2016. 29 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141029121813/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-468/ch14-3.htm. dead.
    5. Harvey 1966, p. 69
    6. Air-Britain Aviation World, March 2020, p. 64.
    7. Web site: N700RM Flight Tracking and History.
    8. Web site: N710RM Flight Tracking and History.
    9. Midcoast Aviation, Inc. v. General Electric Credit Corp.. 907. F.2d. 732. 7th Cir.. 1990.
    10. Web site: Iraqi Airways Lockheed L-1329 JetStar II YI-AKD / MUC . aircraftslides.blogspot.com . 26 March 2015 . 28 May 2017.
    11. Web site: Iraqi Airways Lockheed Jetstar YI-AKB (1981) . aviationphotocompany.com . 1981 . 28 May 2017.
    12. Web site: Accident description . aviation-safety.net . 27 May 2017 . 28 May 2017.
    13. Web site: Avión de Menudo: ¿Chatarra o pedazo de historia? -VÍDEO. 6 September 2013.
    14. Web site: Eastern Airlines Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 8 N12241 (msn 5141) LBG (Jacques Guillem Collection). Image: 907634 . airlinersgallery.smugmug.com . 28 May 2017.
    15. Web site: Eastern Lockheed Whisperstar Emergency Information . pinimg.com . 28 May 2017.
    16. Web site: 1971 – Eastern Airlines Aero Commander 500B N6291X and Lockheed JetStar 6 N12241 "WhisperStar" at Miami . pbase.com . 1971 . 28 May 2017.
    17. Web site: Aircraft Data N968GN, 1967 Lockheed L-1329-23E JetStar C/N 5109 .
    18. Web site: Airliners.net Aviation Photography, Discussion Forums & News . 2024-05-04 . Airliners.net.
    19. https://www.airliners.net, photo of Southern Air Transport JetStar aircraft
    20. https://www.airliners.net, photos of Trans World Airlines (TWA) JetStar aircraft
    21. https://www.airliners.net, photo of Transport Canada JetStar aircraft
    22. Francillon 1982, pp 518–521
    23. https://www.airliners.net, photos of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) JetStar aircraft
    24. https://www.airliners.net, photos of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) JetStar aircraft
    25. Web site: Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar in Chicago: 4 killed.
    26. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 6 N267L London–Luton Airport (LTN) . Aviation-safety.net . 21 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606092724/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19810329-1 . 6 June 2011 . live .
    27. News: Iranian Air Force Leader, Military Chiefs Die in Crash. January 7, 1995. Los Angeles Times.
    28. Web site: Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar 6. Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation. 16 January 2016.
    29. Web site: Lockheed Jetstar. Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum. 22 January 2016.
    30. Web site: 21 September 2015. Twitter @DudiSudibyo. 13 January 2021. twitter.com/dudisudibyo. id.
    31. Web site: C-140 Jet Star Pancasila — Museum Pusat TNI AU Dirgantara Mandala. 13 January 2021. dirgantara.museumjogja.org. id. 17 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217142807/http://dirgantara.museumjogja.org/id/content/206-c-140-jet-star-pancasila. dead.
    32. Web site: 3908 - Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 8. Jet Photos. 26 April 2017. 15 March 2021.
    33. Web site: Airframe Dossier – Lockheed Jetstar II, c/n 5202, c/r N25AG. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 March 2021.
    34. Web site: Lockheed Jetstar CL-329 Prototype. The Museum of Flight. 21 January 2016.
    35. Web site: Airframe Dossier – Lockheed VC-140B-LM Jetstar, c/n 1329-1002, c/r N711Z. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 22 January 2016.
    36. Web site: Airframe Dossier – Lockheed L-1329, s/n 814 NASA, c/r 5003. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 2 March 2021.
    37. Web site: Elvis Presley's private jet up for sale. CNN. 21 June 2018 . 25 June 2018.
    38. Web site: Veronico . Nick . Outdoor Exhibits - VC-140 "Jetstar" . Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center . 16 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160616154407/https://travisheritagecenter.org/html/vc140.html . 16 June 2016.
    39. Web site: Lockheed C-140B "Jetstar". Museum of Aviation. 16 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151218180136/http://www.museumofaviation.org/VC-140B.php. 18 December 2015.
    40. Web site: Jetstar. Pima Air & Space Museum. PimaAir.org. 16 January 2016.
    41. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-140B-LM Jetstar, s/n 61-2490 USAF, c/n 5024. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 16 January 2016.
    42. News: Gamino. Denise. Piece of flying history lands on LBJ ranch. 16 January 2016. Statesman. Aug 19, 2010. 2 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202141719/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/piece-of-flying-history-lands-on-lbj-ranch/nRw8x/. dead.
    43. Web site: C-140 Jetstar. Scott Field Heritage Air Park. 22 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610141041/http://scottfieldairpark.org/c140.html. 10 June 2016. dead.
    44. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-140A-LM Jetstar, s/n 59-5959 USAF, c/n 1329-5026. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 22 January 2016.
    45. Web site: Lockheed VC-140B JetStar. National Museum of the US Air Force. 16 January 2016. October 1, 2015.
    46. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed VC-140B-LM Jetstar, s/n 61-2492 USAF, c/n 1329-5031. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 16 January 2016.
    47. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-140A Jetstar, s/n 59-5962 USAF. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 2 March 2021.
    48. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-140B-LM Jetstar, s/n 62-4197 USAF. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 2 March 2021.
    49. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-140B-LM Jetstar, s/n 62-4200 USAF. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 5 June 2021.
    50. Web site: C-140B "Jetstar". Hill Air Force Base. 16 January 2016. September 27, 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160127133631/http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5756. 27 January 2016.
    51. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed L-1329, c/r N428DA. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 2 March 2021.
    52. Web site: Last JetStar Retires. AVweb. 31 December 2019. 2 March 2021.
    53. Web site: N33SJ - Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 731. Jet Photos. 22 September 2015. 2 March 2021.
    54. Web site: Airframe Dossier – Lockheed Jetstar 731, c/n 5145, c/r N511TD. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 March 2021.
    55. Web site: Airframe Dossier – Lockheed Jetstar 6, c/n 5157, c/r XB-DUH. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 22 January 2016.
    56. Web site: Perry. Kev. USA April 2013 'The Airshows That Never Were' Tour Part 1. DTVMovements. 22 January 2016.
    57. Web site: The Jetstar Thread. FlightAware. 22 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160126094934/http://discussions.flightaware.com/post131539.html. 26 January 2016.
    58. Web site: Lockheed Jetstar. Pacific Coast Air Museum. 2 March 2021.
    59. Web site: N77C - Lockheed L-1329 JetStar II. Jet Photos. 5 June 2018. 15 March 2021.

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