Lockheed Jetstar
The Lockheed Jetstar was the first
business jet. A four-engined aircraft, with several engine models
installed, the aircraft was in production from 1957 to 1979. It
entered service in early 1961. The first two Jetstars were twin
engined airplanes, powered by Bristol
Siddeley Orpheus turbojet engines. The second was refitted with
the
four Pratt & Whitney JT12 engines that were installed on all
the
first Jetstars. Garrett TFE731 turbofans were installed on later
airplanes. A total of 204 Jetstars were built by Lockheed in
several
models. Military versions flew four U.S. Presidents, carrying the
Air Force One designation while they were aboard (some jokingly called it Air Force One Half.)
The Museum's Jetstar is the Prototype
airplane. It is both unique and historic in several ways.
Besides being the Prototype of the first business jet, it is the
only twin-engined Jetstar. It has single wheel main landing
gears, instead of the normal duals, and a unique wing slipper fuel tank
configuration. It made it's first flight 4 Sept 1957, and
like many of Kelly Johnson's Lockheed designs, this was only 241 days
after project go-ahead. Most importantly, this airplane became
Kelly Johnson's personal airplane. In it, he flew from Burbank to
meetings in the Pentagon, or to supervise the activities of his many
secret projects at Groom Lake in the famed "Area 51."
Kelly Johnson with his new Jetstar
Major
photographic and information contributions to this Jetstar section came
from the personal collections of Museum of Flight Volunteer Jim
Goodall, and Ray Goudey, Retired Lockheed Test Pilot, and Chief Pilot
on the Jetstar.
Links:
Lockheed Jetstar Production List
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Robert A. Bogash. All Rights Reserved
Revised 29 Apr 2006
Revised 30 Apr 2006
Revised 1 May 2006
Revised 13 May 2006
Revised 14 May 2006
Revised 21 May 2006
Revised 24 Nov 2006
Revised 23 Nov 2008
Revised 23 Dec 2008
Revised 3 Jan 2009
Click here to see the move from the British Columbia Institute of Technology
Click here to see some historic pictures from the Jetstar program
Click here to see Test Pilot Ray Goudey's return visit to his airplane
Click here to see more photos of the Jetstar at the Restoration Center
A Kelly Johnson Photo Album
Kelly's Airplanes