Around 1972, HansaJet, whose sales and service center was based at Westchester County Airport (HPN) offered my company, also based at HPN a demo flight in their HansaJet. My Chief Pilot, who had no desire to buy a HansaJet convinced them to take a short trip to Albany NY (ALB) to drop off 3 executiv...
Jump to postFor me there is only one WW2 airplane, the North American P-51D Mustang, and I had the opportunity to get a ride on a 2 seat model. Back in 1975 when I was working as a mechanic for a repair station at HPN, (White Plains NY), the repair station where I worked at the time occasionally would have a P-...
Jump to post[quote="GalaxyFlyer"]Actually, the thrust that causes the plane to go forward is almost entirely in the expanding gases in the turbine section. The jet efflux does little to propel the plane, it’s the reaction inside the engine that causes thrust Thrust is produced when the exiting hot exh...
Jump to postI always like to explain the basics of a jet engine comparing it to a blow torch, once the fuel is ignited the fire remains lit until the fuel is shut off, increase the amount of fuel, the larger the flame.
JetStar
I remember in 1980 my chief pilot complaining to me about the $1700.00 it cost to overhaul a brake assembly on the Lockheed JetStar. They were the old fashioned multiple disc steel brakes and would last about 400 to 500 landings, I told him if he wanted to extend the life of the brakes, quit the hea...
Jump to postJust saw a Delta A220 at SRQ!! Guessing it was a sub? Didn’t think they were going to be a regular yet. That's DL 2412, their daily LGA-SRQ-LGA flight, both flights use the same flight number, flew on it last week from LGA to SRQ, first time on a A220, better and more comfortable than the CRJ 900 D...
Jump to postOn the 4 engine Lockheed JetStar bizjet it was a checklist item to test the thrust reversers by deploying them while taxing out to the runway on the first flight of the day. At home base we would normally use a start cart and start all 4 of the engines, but at out stations we would only start engine...
Jump to postThe B-737 max is grandfathered under the original B-737 type certificate, start doing a lot of changes to the airframe and the FAA will require the airplane to be re-certified under today’s standards. At that point you might as well design a brand new airplane than try to incorporate today’s standar...
Jump to postBack in my JetStar flying days, I used to play around with using aerodynamic braking on some flights. I did this on ferry flights without passengers and on long runways just to see how effective aerodynamic braking was. The JetStar had plenty of elevator control at slow speeds so the nose would come...
Jump to postWant to use Jet A in your diesel motor? Marvel Mystery Oil is your friend. As has been noted, the biggest difference between Jet A and ULSD is the lubricity properties. Even modern diesel needs an injection of lubricity when it is loaded onto tanker trucks for delivery to fuel stations. We used to ...
Jump to postA whole lot of mechanics at KHPN did the same thing at the time. There was a whole bunch of Chief of Maintenances, mechanics and even pilots at HPN (White Plains NY) which has a large concentration of corporate airplanes based there who had diesel cars, and like myself bought them because of access...
Jump to postWay back in my Lockheed JetStar maintenance days in the early 1980’s, I had a 1980 diesel VW Rabbit and I ran it exclusively on JetA for at least 2 years. The JetStar had 14 sump drains in the wings and 2 in each wing aux tank and I would drain these sumps at least once a week. Just draining a quart...
Jump to postI remember my 1st ride on a B1900, was TPA to EYW. The hump in the floor was interesting where the landing gear retracts into. Also unless you’re in the last row middle, you’ll have an Aisle and Window seat. FLY The main landing gear on the B1900, and on all other models of the King Air retract for...
Jump to postA lot of visitors often start their vacation in Orlando and then head out to explore other areas of Florida via a rental car and drop off the rental car at another Florida airport. I know that car rental companies during certain times of the year have to ship cars back by truck to Orlando because of...
Jump to postThe only US registration “N” numbers not available to the public is N1 thru N99, they are held for FAA airplanes, but N1A thru Z would be available, N1A is a Goodyear blimp, N1B is a Lockheed JetStar, N1C is a Falcon 2000, and also as previously posted, N1KE for Nike shoes, N100 is a 1940 Piper Cub....
Jump to postIn the US, due to registration “N” numbering system, only 2 letters maximum can be used, so this limits the creativity of vanity registrations In 2 of my corporate gigs, both companies used the 3 numbers of their corporate headquarters address followed by their 2 letter stock symbol, in my third job...
Jump to postIn TPA we wanted to eat dinner at a restaurant that was in a different terminal than from where we were departing from, not only did the TSA let us through security, the TSA even honored our pre check privileges. The only problem we had was with the private security checker at the entrance to the li...
Jump to postThe main reason that A&P aircraft mechanics pay is much lower than what would be expected with the licensing requirements and job responsibilities is that the US Dept. of Labor ever since day one has classified aircraft mechanics as semi skilled laborers while plumbers, electricians and other tr...
Jump to postI loved TWA, flew on them almost exclusively until they were absorbed into American Airliners, even in TWA’s darkest times under Carl Ichan, TWA employees never took out their problems and frustrations on the passengers, they were truly professionals. Because AA honored my TWA miles and status I sta...
Jump to postI used that Quonset Hut quite a few times, particularly on the long-defunct New York Air DC-9s. Later on, I flew on USAir’s F100s. As far as I know, HPN is named for the neighboring towns: Harrison, Purchase, North Castle. There has been a longstanding debate to the origins of this code. Many belie...
Jump to postThe politics surrounding HPN are absolutely disgusting... mainly that surrounding the construction of, and expansion/lack thereof of the terminal. Doubt intl flights would ever be able to happen. Hell, with the terminal, due to the politics surrounding it, it took a lot before any expansion of spac...
Jump to postNo FIS at HPN or ISP so you can forget those. HPN does have customs and Immigration on field and it has been there for many years, I went through customs many times back in the 70's and 80's during my JetStar flying days and it is still there today, but because of a lack of space they do not have a...
Jump to postWhen I worked at a repair station, I’ve adjusted the control cables on many Cessna single engine airplanes. The OP didn’t specify it this condition exists while in-flight or on the ground, if on the ground a previous poster did a pretty good job on visually checking the airframe. What I found back t...
Jump to postJetstar - some great stories, thank you. I had a job offer once that included a Jetstar, but I had a better offer that very same week. Still, I sometimes wonder what flying the Jetstar would have been like. Flying the JetStar, once you learned its idiosyncrasies and handling characteristics was lik...
Jump to postJetstar - some great stories, thank you. I had a job offer once that included a Jetstar, but I had a better offer that very same week. Still, I sometimes wonder what flying the Jetstar would have been like. Flying the JetStar, once you learned its idiosyncrasies and handling characteristics was lik...
Jump to postI don’t think the TGS crash at KHPN helped the JetStar, but they were thin by then anyway. There was a JetStar II parked at Geneva a couple of years ago. A CL350 can do most everything a Jet Star or G II can do at a fraction of the cost. That fact points out that while many focus on the small incre...
Jump to postThanks Jetstar for a fascinating look back at a unique aircraft The Lockheed JetStar was a unique airplane and probably ahead of its time when it first went into service. When the JetStar was introduced around 1962, large corporate flight departments consisted of DC-3’s, Lockheed Lodestars and othe...
Jump to postHey Jetstar, Great information, thanks for sharing it! One question for you : regarding the USAF light transport airplane requirement that you mention above, which other companies designed proposals for it besides Lockheed (the eventual Jetstar I presume) and McDonnell (the Model 220 I presume...)?...
Jump to postThe JetStar had an infamous fuel tank inspection that was commonly refere to as the "tank & plank" inspection. Even if you passed it with fly colors you were writing a big check. Also had a windshield eddy current inspection that was pricey. These aircraft were not for the faint at he...
Jump to postThank you for adding more interesting facts about this unique aircraft Lockheed, as usual went their own way with many design features on the Jetstar I don’t think there was another company as technically advanced in the production of civilian jet aircraft in their day Their masterpiece of course w...
Jump to postBravo One, Funny about BelArgUSA, I’ve had a number of email conversations with him. After PAA folded, he went to Aerolineas Argentina, retired to Florianopolis, BR. I believe Paul passed away shortly after that from throat cancer. A fine gentleman and very knowledgeable, his recommendations in Par...
Jump to postSpeaking of different doors, how about the Challenger 600, The fist 18 or so airplanes built had a door designed for FedEX that facilitated the loading of small packages, When FedEx canceled their order the design was changed to a more passenger friendly design. Xerox Corporation, based at HPN (Whi...
Jump to postThanks for your comprehensive and interesting reply Another unusual aspect of the Jetstar design is the inward opening forward door I remember this being put to good use in a couple of movies An early Bond film involving parachuting from one comes to mind and a later production where a cable was ri...
Jump to postI stand corrected Jetstar and thanks for the interesting follow up It’s a unique configuration, not really sure if there’s any advantage or disadvantage You do end up moving a larger, heavier piece of metal for the same result as a conventional horizontal stabilizer An advantage might be that you h...
Jump to postWhy does a plane of that size require 4 engines? I imagine it was mainly a result of a lack of options when it was designed - would have been on the drawing board in the late 1950s, not many small civilian jet engines available then. I have heard 2 versions of why the JetStar design went from 2 eng...
Jump to postThe Jetstar is an interesting aircraft with some unique design features One of which is the stabilizer trim system, in a conventional set up in the horizontal stabilizer is attached to the rear fuselage and pivots nose up and down. On the Jetstar the horizontal stabilizer is part of the vertical st...
Jump to postContinental had the Sabreliner http://www.airliners.net/photo/Continental-Airlines/North-American-Rockwell-NA-306-Sabreliner-60/1057816 Eastern and TWA, the Jetstar http://www.airliners.net/photo/Eastern-Air-Lines/Lockheed-L-1329-JetStar-8/1185708 http://www.airliners.net/photo/Trans-World-Airlines...
Jump to postThe Jetstar is an interesting aircraft with some unique design features One of which is the stabilizer trim system, in a conventional set up in the horizontal stabilizer is attached to the rear fuselage and pivots nose up and down. On the Jetstar the horizontal stabilizer is part of the vertical st...
Jump to postCould be totally wrong....but I recall this being the Corporate Jet for some long gone Airline & it's Exec's pre deregulation. Eastern, Pan Am, or Continental...maybe even Braniff (Looks like a Harding Lawrence kinda "thing")....again, I could be very wrong. Continental had the Sabrel...
Jump to postI'm withdrawing my comments regarding there being 2 M220 prototypes as I cannot find anything on the web to back that up. I have followed this airplane since the 70's, but I still do not I know where I came up with that idea. Puzzling to say the least You may recall that the JetStar prototype was a...
Jump to post[quote="Polot"][quote="davescj"] AA operated them up until ~10 years ago when their leases expired. They were not renewed because they have PW engines instead of RR like the rest of AA’s fleet. DL got them them (not sure if leased or purchased from leasor). As a side note, when A...
Jump to postIt could be an issue on a radial engine. Because of the gearing and length of the propeller being a lever arm, you have a lot of mechanical advantage. If the cylinder is full of oil, then you could end of applying a lot of force against a hydraulically locked cylinder and end up bending something. ...
Jump to postBack in my JetStar flying days our secretary/dispatcher’s husband was an Air Traffic Controller who worked in the NY Tracon, usually working arrivals, so it was not uncommon for us to hold a little conversation with him whenever he handled us when we were returning to HPN. One time when he was worki...
Jump to postI read somewhere (probably here) that the smoke/residue stains would show on the exterior of the fuselage and make it much easier for the MX folks to finds the pinhole leaks. Maybe thing only positive for a smoking allowed flight. I'm sure someone can clarify what I'm talking about. Back in my JetS...
Jump to postBN727227Ultra wrote:I saw it at STL a lot of ti
mes. Must have been hell on the air conditioning, though.
Fed Ex didn't start with "old Lear Jets". They started with factory fresh Fan Jet Falcons custom configured by Dassault for Fed Ex. Not entirely true, the first batch of Falcon 20’s, about 25 or so were all former corporate airplanes bought used and if I remember correctly Fred Smith cont...
Jump to postWhen I was going through JetStar maintenance school in the early 1970’s at the Lockheed plant in Marietta GA, I was able to go through the C-130 production lines during my lunch break. Lockheed had in a civilian L-100, (C-130) they were converting to a –30 by adding fuselage plugs in front and aft o...
Jump to postI believe that the first BN 747 racked up hours faster than any other 747 by doing DAL-HNL daily; that would have been about 14-15h daily. There was a well known writer, sadly now deceased, Len Morgan, who was one of the top FOs (had captain seniority at time of 747 introduction but went to 747 as ...
Jump to postA lot of new generation business jets have very long range capabilities, exceeding many widebody aircraft that have crew rests. Business jet crews are not under the same regulations as commercial flight crews. Long range corporate jets, which can have a range of up to 15 hours usually have a small ...
Jump to postI remember reading somewhere that WN did get ETOPS certification on some of their 737’s which they use for flights over the Gulf of Mexico between south Florida and DAL. Previously their flights had to follow the coast line to and from DAL but now with ETOPS they can fly directly across the gulf sa...
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