Lockheed Jetstar

Lockheed Jetstar

Lockheed Jetstar business jet at the Pacific Coast Air Museum.

The Lockheed Jetstar was the first jet aircraft designed specifically for business use.

Lockheed Jetstar business Jet on the ramp at the Sonoma County Airport, just after its arrival in April 2016.

This is the Museum's Jetstar about an hour after it made its final landing at the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in April 2016. Its unusual four-engine configuration is obvious in this photo.

Interior view of the Lockheed Jetstar business jet, showing luxurious white leather seats and wood trim.

Business jets have a reputation for luxury and the Jetstar seems to prove the rule. The plush interor of Jetstar N377SA accommodates ten in great comfort. Not surprisingly, Elvis Presley owned one very similar to this.

Pilot and copilot seats in the Lockheed Jetstar, shown from the rear and also showing the instrument panel, controls, and view out the windshield.

The Lockeed Jetstar is all business, from tail to nose. Here's the front office, where the pilot and copilot sit.

Pilots and copilots of the Jetstar standing outside the plane on the ramp.

Here is the Jetstar's final crew, who flew it to the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport for retirement at our Museum. The big pod hanging under the wing is a "slipper tank" fuel tank.

Lockheed Jetstar business jet making a low pass, with trees in the background.

Lockheed Jetstar business jet N377SA makes a low pass down the runway, before approaching and landing one final time. The Jetstar was designed in the late 1950s and was the first dedicated business jet. Before that, wealthy business people bought and converted airliners for their own uses, or flew as commercial airline passengers, or flew older and slower piston-engined aircraft.

Lockheed Jetstar business jet, shown on the ground and directly from the side.

Our Jetstar was donated by a generous and anonymous contributor. PCAM is extremely pleased to have this pivotal aircraft design in our collection. It was the pioneer business jet, which opened up an entire market sector for other aircraft manufacturers.

Lockheed Jetstar with its landing gear down and nose high, just about to touch down on a runway during landing.

This is the Museum's Lockheed Jetstar, shown during its business life. Here, it is just about to touch down at some unknown airport, carrying its payload of businesspersons. Many Jetstars were owned by private businesses, and even the Air Force used them as VIP transports and as airborne test aircraft for testing navigational aids.

Lockheed Jetstar History

Lockheed Jetstar business jet #5229 (N377SA) arrived at the Pacific Coast Air Museum on Saturday April 30, 2016 as the newest addition to the Museum’s collection. The aircraft was showcased at a reception at Sonoma Jet Center on Saturday morning and is now on display at the Museum.

The Jetstar is an executive business jet produced in the 1960s and 1970s by Lockheed Corporation (originally the Lockheed Aircraft Manufacturing Company). The Jetstar has the distinction of being the first dedicated business jet to enter service, was capable of cruising at over 500 mph and had a range of nearly 3,000 miles. It is a relatively large business jet that seats up to 10 passengers and a crew of two pilots and one flight attendant.

Jetstar N377SA was manufactured in 1978, has been privately owned and operated for private business transportation and is being donated to the Museum after its final flight.

The Museum plans to have the aircraft on display as early as May 1, 2016. With the generous support of Top Speed Data Communications, a valued partner of the Museum based in Petaluma that specializes in voice, data and wireless services, PCAM will develop an exhibit that allows Museum visitors to see inside this piece of aviation history. Our goal is to make this exhibit ADA accessible so that all of the Museum’s visitors have the chance to come aboard.

Dimensions & Weights

Wingspan

54 ft 5 in (16.59 m)

Length

60 ft 5 in (18.41 m)

Height

20 ft 5 in (6.22 m)

Wing area

542.5 sq. ft. (50.4 sq. meters)

Empty weight

24,750 lb (11,226 kg)

Loaded weight

41,535 lb (18,840 kg)

Max. takeoff weight

44,500 lb (20,185 kg)

Accommodation

Two pilots, one flight attendant, up to ten passengers

Performance

Maximum speed:

547 mph (476 knots, 883 km/h) at 30,000 ft (9,145 m);

Cruise speed:

504 mph (438 knots, 811 km/h);

Range

2,995 mi (2,604 nmi, 4,820 km);

Service ceiling

43,000 ft (13,105 m);

Rate of climb

4,150 ft/min (21.1 m/s)

Powerplant

Four 3,700 lbf (16.5 kN) thrust Garrett TFE731-3 turbofan engines. Four internal fuel tanks, two external tanks

Crew Chief

Position Open