Thanks.

TWA operated two Jetstars for advanced pilot training back in the 60's. The panels were modified to replicate the B707 and B727. I think they we found to be cost prohibitive rather quickly.

Kelly Johnson of U2/SR71 fame had one of the first two JetStars assigned to him for a few years in the 60's. The first two JetStar prototypes were twin engine as to opposed to the final 4 engine configuration that evolved.

Hi Dave. More about playing around with Irfanview and respect for Dennis Punnett - but here's the Falcon with the Mystere IVA. :)


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4082c8a7fd.jpg

After Al Mooney left Mooney Aircraft following type certification of the M20, he went to work for Lockheed where he had a major role in the design of the JetStar and a few other Lockheed designs.

Thanks JT, wonderful what detail pops out of the woodwork, just found an item that credits him with the design proposal that became the Jetstar. :ok: Still think the Jetstars sole competitor for the USAF contract was the sexier looking.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....64cd9a834d.jpg

Wasn't it a Jetstar that went off the end at LTN in the early 80's? ISTR that it was their second or third approach, and they put it down way too deep on R08. I believe there was very little fuel remaining in the tanks, and the' business men' passengers somewhat hurriedly decamped the scene leaving behind suitcases full of cash.

If two Convair Coronado's got together, say a CV-880 and a CV-990 and had a kid, this (post no.65) would be it!

Thanks LongerOn, it's clear now, it is a very special way to make an adjustable stabilizer incidence control. Seems a costly solution, compared to the usual way to vary the tailplane incidence.

Al Mooney’s philosophy was trim tabs cause drag, which in turn costs speed.

I have about 1000 hours on Money 201s. They were designed to go fast. I used to tell my students….if you call Mooney and tell them if you paint your aircraft pink with black spots it will do another 10 knots, they would do it….

N267L on 29th March 1981: 6-1982_N267L.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Absolutely Washoutt
Doesn't look a particularly structurally strong way of attaching the v stab/fin either :)
Although it does not appear to have caused any structural problems in service, it is possible that the Empennage Pivot Fitting may well have been one of the components which eventually contributed to the grounding of the type ??
I am assuming the a/c had a good autostab system to avoid sideslip loads on the empennage attachments ??

Back in 2007 the Jetstar fleet were the subject of Lockheed AD regarding the nose leg steering actuator, to be accomplished within 30 days and requiring the actuator to be replaced but with no spares available!

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-n...service-issues

The construction of the attachment of the fin and its movement is by the looks of it not a fail-safe design. So it must be safe-life and therefore time limited. Changing it at the safe-life interval is very costly, and probably prohibitive, so the aircraft must be written of. I remember many years ago that a small PZL aircraft (Poland) also had a safe-life fuselage (steel tube), and after so many flight hours, you were supposed the repalce the fuselage....

Interesting to note that the link in post #73 questions, amongst other items, the serviceabilty of tail pivot fittings:-

There were, I think, two Jetstars that used to be regulars at LBA. The other belonged to Cameron Ironworks:

Looking through a list of JetStars yesterday, there was indeed at least one German example, D-BABE and an Italian. The American example I recall from Gatwick was N101AW, sure I saw it there on several occasion in the '70s.

That M220 sat in KABQ for a number years. The last time I saw it they were trying replace the engiines with a GE engine off of a LearJet. I believe it finally flew, and the FAA revoke the pilots certificates of those involved. It was a good looking airplane for sure.

When I was in Kuwait Airways flying both B707 and B737 as F/O in late 70's we had a Jetstar flown by Tony Hebborn usually and a 707 F/O Joe sharps volunteered. Then always known as Jetstar Joe.

He got B707 command so gained some brownie points by flying it.

I'm sure that I saw the Kuwait Airlines Jetstar at LHR and LTN back in the day, a fine looking machine. Almost as exciting as seeing a KA 737 having Mx through the Brittania hangar doors at LTN.