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Pilatus PC-12: The Best Corporate Turboprop Yet?…

27Mar

By Alya Kulikova1 Comment

Executive

Pilatus PC-12: The Best Corporate Turboprop Yet?…

In recent years, the Pilatus PC-12 has proven to be one of the best and most versatile turboprop aircraft ever built. Whilst principally a corporate aircraft, the PC-12 has also been used in hundreds of different capacities! Indeed, recent years have seen many hail the aircraft as one of the best corporate aircraft you could fly on. And it's not me who says that, it's the people who actually operate the Pilatus PC-12! Since its introduction in 1994, Pilatus has produced almost 2,000 PC-12s, and looks set to produce many more in the coming years... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Development In the late 1950's, Swiss aircraft manufacturer, Pilatus Aircraft, released what it called the PC-6. Within only a few years, the PC-6 had proven to be qu...

Boeing 767-200: The Making of an Air Icon!

24Mar

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

Boeing 767-200: The Making of an Air Icon!

Today, the 767 is arguably Boeing's second most famous widebody airliner, after the 747. For the most part, this is due to the Boeing 767-200, which was among the best airliners of its day! When the 767-200 was introduced in 1982, it was among the largest twinjets ever flown, being one of only two widebody twinjets. Due to this many people earnestly believed it would fail dismally. How wrong, they were... If you flew on a 767 in the 1980's and/or 1990's, chances are high that it was a 767-200! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Boeing 767-200 The 1950's had sparked what we know as the commercial jet age. The introduction of the first jet airliners like the Comet, Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8, Convair 880 and Convair 990 revolutionized the airli...

Dassault Falcon 20: Dassault’s Original Business Jet!

20Mar

By Gareth SeagullNo Comments

Executive

Dassault Falcon 20: Dassault’s Original Business Jet!

Today, the Dassault Falcon 20 is remembered for a lot of things. Primarily, it is known for being one of the first business jets, whilst also being one of Dassault's most successful business jets yet! Between 1965 and 1991, Dassault would produce a total of 512 Falcon 20s. Whilst many went on to become the private jets of the rich and famous, many more were used as military jets, or even as cargo aircraft... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Development In the late 1950's, the USAF launched the UTX program, which aimed to create a small, VIP jet transport. Although the USAF would later cancel the project, most companies would continue to privately fund development. Within a few years, the US had a number of early business jet designs, many of ...

Boeing 757-200: The Most Successful 757 Yet!

17Mar

By Charles Yongzheng2 Comments

Aircraft Digest

Boeing 757-200: The Most Successful 757 Yet!

Today, the Boeing 757 is arguably one of the most famous narrow body jet airliners Boeing has ever produced! For the most part, this is down to the immense success of the the Boeing 757-200! Despite the eldest 757-200s being almost 40 years old, the majority of the fleet are still actively flying. Unlike most other 40 year-old jets, many are still used in the west on a regular basis too. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Boeing 757-200 The late 1950's and early 1960's had proven to be one of the best periods for Boeing. During this time, Boeing had released numerous new jets, which had made them billions in today's money. In 1957, Boeing saw the first flight of the 707 - their first jet airliner. Two years later would see the first flight ...

Boeing 747-300: The Least Successful 747 Ever Built!

13Mar

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

Boeing 747-300: The Least Successful 747 Ever Built!

Today, many people remember the Boeing 747-300 for being the least successful of all the 747s which follow the 747-XXX designation. So what made it so different from the other 747s, that made it so unsuccessful? When the 747-300 was introduced in 1983, it was by far the largest passenger jet of its time. It would remain as this until the 747-400 was introduced in February 1989. Chances are that if you flew on a 747 in the mid-1980's, it was probably a 747-300! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Boeing 747-300 During WWII, both the British and the Germans had invented their own jet engines. Beyond just inventing their own jet engine, the British had also developed their own jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor. Following the war, jet engin...

10Mar

By Alya KulikovaNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

Boeing 720: The Unique Boeing Jet…

In many ways, the Boeing 720 is the odd one out when it comes to Boeing jets. All other Boeing-made jets follow the "7x7" naming convention, whilst the 720 does not, much to the annoyance of avgeeks the world over! Despite this, over a nine year period, Boeing sold 154 copies of the jet, many of which would have service lives that spanned well over 40 years. In fact, one was so good, its service life spanned a total of 50 years! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Boeing 720 During WWII, both sides began developing jet engines. By the end of the war, Britain not only had a working jet engine, but also a working jet fighter, the Gloster Meteor, which entered service in July 1944. Following the war, airlines began demanding their own jet aircra...

North American Sabreliner: The Original Versatile Business Jet

6Mar

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

Executive

North American Sabreliner: The Original Versatile Business Jet

Today, there are a number of business jets which are seen as being incredibly versatile. However, the Rockwell / North American Sabreliner, otherwise known as the T-39, was the original "versatile" business jet! In total, Rockwell / North American built well over 800 of the jet, making it one of the most built business jets in history. Despite some being well over 60 years old, many remain in service today... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Development In the mid-1950's, the USAF initiated the UTX program, which was looking for a jet that could could be both a trainer, and a VIP transport aircraft. To do this, the USAF requested design proposals from a number of aircraft manufacturers. The project was extremely lucrative, which would see most...

27Feb

By Alya KulikovaNo Comments

History

Juan Trippe: The Man Who Built Pan Am

Today, Juan Trippe is known for a number of things. Primarily, this is for being the driving force behind Pan Am for almost 40 years, but also, for being the guy who helped to create the 747! According to most aviation historians, Trippe is regarded as being one of the fathers of the American airline industry. This is alongside people like Eddie Rickenbacker, Jack Frye and Pat Patterson. Due to this, Trippe has been immortalized in a number of aviation movies, including Martin Scorsese's The Aviator and Pat O'Brien's The China Clipper. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Early Life Juan Terry Trippe was born on June 27, 1899 to Charles and Lucy Trippe. His mother was a homemaker, whilst his father was a New York-based investment banker and stockb...

24Feb

By Alexander PaskNo Comments

Aircraft Digest

Boeing 747-100: The First Jumbo Jet

If you were to ask any avgeek to name the most iconic jet airliner of the 20th century, they'd probably respond with "747". This is mostly due to the first 747, the Boeing 747-100. When it was released in 1970, the 747-100 was the largest passenger jet in the world. The 747-100 itself would be replaced by the 747-200, and then the 747-300, before being replaced by the 747-400, and most recently the 747-8. Chances are that if you flew on a 747 prior to 1975, it was probably a 747-100... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pre-Boeing 747-100 Throughout the 1950's, aircraft manufacturers raced to produce the world's first jet airliner. This was accomplished by Britain's de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1952, with their DH106 Comet airliner. Am...

Learjet 31: Learjet’s Most Versatile Jet Ever!

20Feb

By Gareth SeagullNo Comments

Executive

Learjet 31: Learjet’s Most Versatile Jet Ever!

Today, Learjet is known for having produced some of the best business jets to have ever flown. Among these jets is definitely the Learjet 31, which as served in a number of capacities since its introduction in 1990. Between 1987 and 2003, Learjet produced a grand total of 246 Learjet 31s. Although a few have been stored, the overwhelming majority of the jets are still in service, with some coming being almost 30 years old! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Development Learjet have been producing business jets since the birth of the industry. Here, they released their Learjet 23, which was subsequently used to design the Learjet 24, Learjet 25 and the Learjet 28/29. Around the mid-1980's, the Learjet 29, Learjet's then-flagship jet, was beginn...