Post by viscount on Mar 23, 2010 0:34:26 GMT 1
The Lockheed L.1329 Jetstar is acknowledged to be the first dedicated business jet design to fly. Type first flight 4th September 1957. It was quite a sleek brute, with 4 rear-mounted engines. Production amounted to just 204, including C-140 transports for the USAF. Final customer delivery was during 1978. An unmistakeable type, it was never that common around Europe, so always created a stir whenever one was seen anywhere outside of Luton, Stansted or Le Bourget.
At Liverpool we waited a long time for the first Jetstar to appear, some 12 years after the long new runway was opened and made visits possible. Even then the visits were few and far apart, and over a 21 year span (1978-1998) only 9 different aircraft appeared - 6 using the north airfield and Art Deco terminal facilities, 3 at the new terminal on the south airfield.
1978
First Jetstar 731 to appear at Liverpool was N731A on Tuesday 9th May, departing the following day. Arrived from Cork and onward to Luton. The 731 type designation reflected the mark of engine fitted.
1979
The following year, on Saturday 29th September, N372H called, routed in from Brussels and out to Stansted.
1980
An annual visit by a Jetstar 731 was becoming to be expected by the Speke Spotter. N731JS arrived on Sunday 11th May direct from Gander, Canada, before routing onto Stansted.
1984
After 3 years without the type appearing, in the year of the International Garden Festival (IGF), two military Jetstars in the same year. The 58th MAS/435TAW based a few for VIP communication duties in Europe. 12491 (61-2491) known as a VC-140B called on Wednesday 18th April, 0925-1220, routing from Mildenhall to Filton as 'Spar 95'. From the routing, this visit was presumably in connection with the US Army at Burtonwood.
The following month 24200 (62-4200) VC-140B called on Monday 28th May, 1020-1135 routing from Lisbon to Ramstein AFB, as 'Spar 87'. This was during 'American week' at the IGF and the day after a Boeing C-135 called at Liverpool, so was almost certainly collecting VIPs.
1985
The following year another civil Jetstar appeared on Thurs 9th May, f&t Paris/Le Bourget, arriving 1355, departing 1605. N917J was noted as being C/no. 5082/36 and recently ex N320S.
1986
A USAF 58th MAS VC-140B was expected on 30.6 with an inspection team of senior officers to Burtonwood. However, in the event they arrived on a pair of Beech C-12s.
1989
After three years without visits, and all visiting aircraft now using the new south apron and terminal. On Tuesday, 10th October N79AE appeared, 0900-1756, from and to Luton. C/no.5155/32 and recently ex N10PN. The story connected to this visit is that a group of businessmen wanted to seal a contract over a game of golf. Gleneagles was unable to accept them, nor was St.Andrews, however they were made very welcome at Royal Birkdale - to the delight of the Liverpool spotters!
1997
Another 7 barrren years followed, making the visit of Jetstar 731 N777SG all the sweeter. On Monday 29th December, 0911-1720, from Paris/Le Bourget to Luton.
1998
The following year proved to the last that a Jetstar was to be seen at Liverpool. The aircraft was probably at Liverpool for longer than the total of all previous visits added together! With the personalised registration N57NP was a Jetstar 731 owned by golfer Nick Price. He arrived from Gander direct at 1110 on Monday 13th July, leaving at 1019 on Monday 20th July for Norwich. The aviation mags of the time don't report which tournament he was playing in, along with other leading golfers.
Aircraft seen at Liverpool:
N57NP, N79AE, N372H, N731A, N731JS, N777SG, N917J (=7)
61-2491, 62-4200 (=2)
I don't have a Jetstar production list. Can someone confirm all the civilian Jetstars were Jetstar 731s? Were all 7 civilians different airframes? Do any of the 7 survive? Are any of the owners/operators at the time of visit known? Of the military pair, I do know that 12491 was displayed at Rhein-Main AFB, Germany before closure of that base, while 24200 was dismantled at AMARC, Davis Monthan AFB and was noted in the Allied Scrapyard next door 6.02.
Not the longest of these type visit reviews, I'm reasonably certain I've not missed out any visits. If anyone can illustrate these aircraft at Liverpool, I'd be delighted - and amazed! For those around at the time, encounters with Jetstars were infrequent enough to make each sighting memorable.
As usual, photos and further details on the Lockheed Jetstar as a type can be found on www.wikipedia.com
At Liverpool we waited a long time for the first Jetstar to appear, some 12 years after the long new runway was opened and made visits possible. Even then the visits were few and far apart, and over a 21 year span (1978-1998) only 9 different aircraft appeared - 6 using the north airfield and Art Deco terminal facilities, 3 at the new terminal on the south airfield.
1978
First Jetstar 731 to appear at Liverpool was N731A on Tuesday 9th May, departing the following day. Arrived from Cork and onward to Luton. The 731 type designation reflected the mark of engine fitted.
1979
The following year, on Saturday 29th September, N372H called, routed in from Brussels and out to Stansted.
1980
An annual visit by a Jetstar 731 was becoming to be expected by the Speke Spotter. N731JS arrived on Sunday 11th May direct from Gander, Canada, before routing onto Stansted.
1984
After 3 years without the type appearing, in the year of the International Garden Festival (IGF), two military Jetstars in the same year. The 58th MAS/435TAW based a few for VIP communication duties in Europe. 12491 (61-2491) known as a VC-140B called on Wednesday 18th April, 0925-1220, routing from Mildenhall to Filton as 'Spar 95'. From the routing, this visit was presumably in connection with the US Army at Burtonwood.
The following month 24200 (62-4200) VC-140B called on Monday 28th May, 1020-1135 routing from Lisbon to Ramstein AFB, as 'Spar 87'. This was during 'American week' at the IGF and the day after a Boeing C-135 called at Liverpool, so was almost certainly collecting VIPs.
1985
The following year another civil Jetstar appeared on Thurs 9th May, f&t Paris/Le Bourget, arriving 1355, departing 1605. N917J was noted as being C/no. 5082/36 and recently ex N320S.
1986
A USAF 58th MAS VC-140B was expected on 30.6 with an inspection team of senior officers to Burtonwood. However, in the event they arrived on a pair of Beech C-12s.
1989
After three years without visits, and all visiting aircraft now using the new south apron and terminal. On Tuesday, 10th October N79AE appeared, 0900-1756, from and to Luton. C/no.5155/32 and recently ex N10PN. The story connected to this visit is that a group of businessmen wanted to seal a contract over a game of golf. Gleneagles was unable to accept them, nor was St.Andrews, however they were made very welcome at Royal Birkdale - to the delight of the Liverpool spotters!
1997
Another 7 barrren years followed, making the visit of Jetstar 731 N777SG all the sweeter. On Monday 29th December, 0911-1720, from Paris/Le Bourget to Luton.
1998
The following year proved to the last that a Jetstar was to be seen at Liverpool. The aircraft was probably at Liverpool for longer than the total of all previous visits added together! With the personalised registration N57NP was a Jetstar 731 owned by golfer Nick Price. He arrived from Gander direct at 1110 on Monday 13th July, leaving at 1019 on Monday 20th July for Norwich. The aviation mags of the time don't report which tournament he was playing in, along with other leading golfers.
Aircraft seen at Liverpool:
N57NP, N79AE, N372H, N731A, N731JS, N777SG, N917J (=7)
61-2491, 62-4200 (=2)
I don't have a Jetstar production list. Can someone confirm all the civilian Jetstars were Jetstar 731s? Were all 7 civilians different airframes? Do any of the 7 survive? Are any of the owners/operators at the time of visit known? Of the military pair, I do know that 12491 was displayed at Rhein-Main AFB, Germany before closure of that base, while 24200 was dismantled at AMARC, Davis Monthan AFB and was noted in the Allied Scrapyard next door 6.02.
Not the longest of these type visit reviews, I'm reasonably certain I've not missed out any visits. If anyone can illustrate these aircraft at Liverpool, I'd be delighted - and amazed! For those around at the time, encounters with Jetstars were infrequent enough to make each sighting memorable.
As usual, photos and further details on the Lockheed Jetstar as a type can be found on www.wikipedia.com
