Lockheed L-329 JetStar
Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1957 · light aircraft
The Lockheed JetStar was one of the first purpose-built business jets, notable for carrying four turbojet engines in paired pods on the rear fuselage and distinctive tip tanks on its swept low wing. It served both as a corporate transport and USAF utility jet (C-140).
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Four JT12 turbojets clustered in paired nacelles on rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four JT12 turbojets clustered in paired nacelles on rear fuselage
- T-tail with prominent horizontal stabiliser
- Large integral fuel tanks on each wing tip
The four rear-mounted engines in two paired nacelles, large wingtip fuel tanks, and T-tail are unmistakable. No other production business jet combines all four of these features simultaneously.
Specifications
- The Lockheed L-329 JetStar has a length of 18.42 m (60 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.18 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 900 km/h (559 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1957, the JetStar entered production in 1960 and became a favoured executive transport for governments and corporations. Lockheed updated it with quieter Garrett TFE731 turbofans as the JetStar II in the 1970s to address noise regulations.
Variants
The original JetStar used Pratt & Whitney JT12 turbojets; the JetStar II replaced these with TFE731 turbofans. The USAF C-140A served as a navigation aids inspection aircraft and the C-140B as a VIP transport.
Where you'll see it
Operated by USAF as the C-140 and by numerous governments and private operators worldwide; Elvis Presley famously owned a JetStar named Hound Dog II.
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