The First Official Private Jet: What Was Special About The Lockheed JetStar?

Lockheed JetStar from Lockheed Martin Corporation was a special jet at its debut in 1960 and one of a kind. It was a revolutionary aircraft that became the official private jet for the rich and powerful of the time. While it wasn't the first private aircraft per se, it became the jet of choice for its 8-10 passenger capacity and mile range (2,995 miles).

The first prototype of the JetStar started with the aim of winning the US Air Force competition. However, when the Department of Defense dropped the order due to budget cuts, the manufacturer continued with the project with the target of selling it to the business market. But what exactly made this jet so special? Revolutionary propulsion The first two JetStar prototypes had two Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engines, with one making its maiden flight on September 4th, 1957.

Later, the company had to re-engineer the second prototype with four Pratt & Whitney JT12A-8 turbojet engines due to failed negotiations to produce the Orpheus in the USA. While you might not think much about the JT12s engines today, they were state-of-the-art technology at the time. These low-bypass models (more air went through the engine core than around it ) were the epitome of engineering then.

The production team mounted two outer engines next to the two inner ones. This design arrangement proved successful in test flights, and the company adopted it for commercial production in 1959. It gave the JetStar its iconic appearance, which later influenced engin.