Lockheed JetStar: Difference between revisions

JetStar
	NASA JetStar
Role	Transport
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation
First flight	1957
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	204

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Revision as of 07:43, 30 June 2011

The Lockheed JetStar (company designations L-329 and L-1329; designated C-140 in USAF service) is a business jet produced from the early 1960s through 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 in a similar layout to the larger Vickers VC10 airliner, 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 USAF requirement that was later dropped due to budget cuts. Lockheed decided to continue the project on their 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 they re-engined the second prototype, N329K, with four Pratt & Whitney JT12 in 1959. The slipper tanks were removed and placed on the first prototype, N329J. N329J served as Clarence Johnson's personal transport for some time. 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.

Sixteen JetStars were produced for the United States Air Force. Five C-140A Flight Inspection aircraft to perform airborne testing of airport navigational aids in 1962. They began service during the Vietnam War and remained in service until the early 1990s. The "Flight Check" C-140A were a combat-coded aircraft that could be distinguished from the VIP transport version by their distinctive camouflage paint scheme. The last C-140A to be retired was placed on static display at Scott AFB, Illinois.

An additional 11 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. 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.

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 AiResearch TFE731 turbofan engines and redesigned external fuel tanks to original JetStars. The 731 JetStar modification program was so successful that Lockheed produced 40 new JetStars, designated the JetStar II, from 1976 through 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.

Design

The JetStar has a fairly typical business jet 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 wing also includes slats along the front of the wing outboard of the tanks, while double-slotted trailing-edge flaps span the entire rear surface. The horizontal stabilizer is mounted about half way up the vertical stabilizer to keep it clear of the jetwash. One feature is that trim is provided by pivoting the entire vertical stabilizer, which leaves a distinctive unpainted area at that base of the fin that is noticeable in most pictures. This arrangement, called a flying stabilizer, is now standard on most larger airplanes. A speed brake is located on the underside of the fuselage to help slow down 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.^[3]

The JetStar is a relatively heavy aircraft for its class, at 42,500 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 that allowed a person to walk upright in the cabin, although to do this the aisle was sunk slightly so that the seats were raised on either side.^[4] The windows are relatively large.

The JetStar II is generally similar, with a number of detail changes. The cockpit area has somewhat more "modern" looking nose and window arrangement, larger engines, and most notably, the fuel tanks are larger and sit with their upper surfaces flush with the wing, rather than being centered on it.

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.

Operators

Civil operators

Canada

Department of Transport

Iraq

Iraqi Airways

Military operators

Germany

Luftwaffe

Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Kuwait
Libya
Mexico
United States

United States Air Force

Saudi Arabia

Royal Saudi Air Force

Aircraft on display

A JetStar that was owned by Elvis Presley in his later years, named Hound Dog II, is on display at Graceland.^{[citation needed]}

President LBJ's JetStar is on display in his Texas Ranch.^[5]

The National Museum of the United States Air Force JetStar is on display in the Presidential Collection.

The Museum of Aviation next to the Robins Air Force Base has a VC-140B in their collection.

The Athens Scuba Park in Athens, TX has a sunken C-140 for exploration by scuba divers.^[6]

Specifications (JetStar II)

Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913^[7]

General characteristics

Crew: two pilots & typically one flight attendant
Capacity: 8-10 passengers

Performance

Notable appearances in media

JetStars have appeared in a number of films and television series including the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, and the 1997 film Face/Off.

References

^ JetStar 6
^ The Lockheed JetStar
^ ^a ^b Lockheed Jetstar
^ Chapter 14: Business Jet Aircraft, Lockheed JetStar
^ [1]
^ [2]
^ Francillon 1982, p.396.
^ Francillon 1982, p. 394.

Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London:Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.

[1] JetStar 6

[airliners-2] The Lockheed JetStar

[rbog-3] Lockheed Jetstar

[nasa-4] Chapter 14: Business Jet Aircraft, Lockheed JetStar

[statesman.com-5] [1]

[www.athensscubapark.com-6] [2]

[Frnc_Lock_p396-7] Francillon 1982, p.396.

[Frnc_Lock_p394-8] Francillon 1982, p. 394.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 The [[Museum of Aviation]] next to the [[Robins Air Force Base]] has a VC-140B in their collection.
-The [[Athens Scuba Park]] in Athens, TX has a sunken C-140 for exploration by scuba divers.<ref name=www.athensscubapark.com[http://www.athensscubapark.com/about.asp]</ref>
+The [[Athens Scuba Park]] in Athens, TX has a sunken C-140 for exploration by scuba divers.<ref name=www.athensscubapark.com>[http://www.athensscubapark.com/about.asp]</ref>
 ==Specifications (JetStar II)==

v t e United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems
Army/Air Force sequence (1925–1962)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41 C-41A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47 C-47F C-47T AC-47 C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-55 C-56 C-57 C-58 C-59 C-60 C-61 C-62 C-63 C-64 C-65 C-66 C-67 C-68 C-69 C-70 C-70B C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77 C-77B–D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 C-83A C-83B C-84 C-85 C-86 C-87 C-88 C-89 C-90 C-91 C-92 C-93 C-94 C-95 C-96 C-97 KC-97 C-98 C-99 C-100 C-101 C-102 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-107 C-108 C-109 C-110 C-111 C-112 C-113 C-114 C-115 C-116 C-117 C-117D C-118 C-119 AC-119 C-120 C-121 C-121F EC-121 C-122 C-123 C-123A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127² C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130 C-130J AC-130 DC-130 EC-130/H HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 WC-130 C-131 NC-131H C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135 KC-135 C-136 C-137² YC-137 (I) YC-137 (II) C-137 C-138¹ C-139¹ C-140 C-141 C-142
Tri-service sequence (1962–present)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7² C-7 RC-7 C-8 C-9 C-10² C-10 KC-10 C-11 C-12 RC-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16¹ C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20² C-20A–D C-20F–J C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-27J C-28 C-29 C-30¹ C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34¹ C-35 C-36³ C-37 C-37B C-38 C-39¹ C-40 C-41 C-42¹ C-43¹ C-44¹ C-45 C-46
Revived original sequence (2005–present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146 C-147
Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-767B C-880
Related designations	CT-39 CT-43 CV-2 CV-7
¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to multiple types • ³ Unconfirmed

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