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Back to light transports

The Fairchild 71 is an antique transport machine which first flew in 1929. Originally designed for aerial surveys, but widely adopted by operators such as Canadian bush fliers, it seats seven. Powered by a 420hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine, it cruises at 110mph over a range of 650 miles. It is 35 feet 10 inches long; its 50 foot 2 inch wings can be folded for easier storage.

This is one of a few which still exist, and  was pictured at Snohomish, September 1981

Grumman at one time specialised in flying boats. The Grumman HU-16 Albatross was originally built for a US Navy requirement for a medium-sized floatplane carrying 10 to 12 people. It was a rugged, capable aircraft and was very successful in its role. Demand for flying boats is limited and their cost high, but despite that 464 were built. They had two radial piston engines of 1,425 horsepower each, and had a fuel endurance of about nine hours.

This very smart example was at Paris-Le Bourget in June 1981.

The Grumman Goose was originally a commercial flying boat design, first flown in June 1937. With the outbreak of the second world war, most of the 250 Geese made were completed as US Navy aircraft under the designation JRF. The engines are Pratt & Whitney Wasp radials.It can carry up to 14 passengers at up to 220mph for up to 1,200 miles.

Many remain active today, including this one (N327) seen on a very foggy morning at Arlington in September 1981.

The Grumman G-44 Widgeon is a six seat amphibian powered by two 200hp Ranger inline engines. The original concept was for a machine with the same general mission profile as the Goose, but much smaller. It first flew in July 1940. It cruises at 130mph and has a range of 1,000 miles. It is 31 feet 1 inch long, with a wing span of 40 feet. 266 were built, mostly after the war.

This one was at Biggin Hill, June 1987

The Grumman Cougar was Grumman's attempt to enter the light twin market following their takeover of American Aviation. It was not a success, offering no real advantages over the many established designs in its class, especially the Piper Seneca. Only 115 were built

This one was at Elstree on a very gloomy day in October 1982.

The Gulfstream Peregrine was unusual for an executive jet in being single engined. It is powered by by a 3,500lb Garrett TFE731 engine, which gave it a cruising speed of 435mph and range of 1,700 miles. It first flew in January 1983. It was 41 feet 2 inches long, with a wing span of 45 feet 2 inches. It is a six seater, with gross weight of 9,400lb. However, only one was built; the project was cancelled due to lack of orders. A military trainer version, the NGT, was similarly unsuccessful.

It was demonstrated at Paris in May 1983.

The Grumman Gulfstream was one of the first corporate turboprop aircraft in the world. It first flew in August 1958, predating the classic Beech Kingair by five years. It was also much bigger, being able to seat up to 14 people. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops, it was very capable: it could fly at 360mph for up to 2,700 miles. After 200 had been built, it was superseded by corporate jet designs. Some were used by the US air force as executive transports (C-4) and navigation trainers (T-41 Academe). Some were converted to G1C commuter airliners after the corporate division of Grumman had been spun off as a separate company and renamed Gulfstream.

This Gulfstream was at Geneva in September 1982.

Grumman developed the Gulfstream 2 in 1966 as the `ultimate executive jet': with range of 3,500 miles at 560mph and seating 19 people in real luxury, it is a very impressive - and expensive - aircraft. The division was spun off as a separate company and renamed Gulfstream Aircraft, and has continued to develop the design progressively over the years. Gulfstreams have been used by the USAF as executive transports, including the Gulfstream 2 (C-11), 3 (C-20) and 5 (C-37).

Illustrated is a Gulfstream 5, seen at Farnborough in 1998.

The Gulfstream 450 is essentially an updated version of the Gulfstream IV luxury executive jet. It first flew in April 2003. It is powered by two 13,850lb Rolls Royce Tay engines, which give it a cruising speed of Mach 0.8 and range of 5,000 miles. It can seat up to 19 passengers. It is one of the largest executive jets, with gross weight of 73,900lb, 89 feet 4 inches long, with a wing span of 77 feet 10 inches.

This company demonstrator was at Fairford in July 2005

Bill Lear designed the Lear Jet as the sports car of the sky. It is a sleek and fast executive jet, with a speed over 500 mph at the expense of a somewhat cramped cabin. It is synonymous with executive luxury (for example, it is cited as such in the Carly Simon song `You're So Vain'). Although originally a light and small aircraft, the basic Lear Jet design has been upgraded through several versions. The US Air Force has used two variants as the C-21 and C-35.

Top picture - Lear Jet 24 (modified as a target tug) at Farnborough, September 1976.

Middle picture - Lear Jet 35 operated by the Finnish Air Force, Fairford, July 2005

Lower picture - Lear Jet 45 at Biggin Hill in 2007.

The Lockheed 10 Electra was Lockheed's first twin engined transport. It first flew in 1934 and was built in considerable quantity. It could take up to 10 passengers for 880 miles at 180 mph, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engines. The US Air Force used several under a variety of designations, most frequent being C-35.

This Electra visited Farnborough in September 1982.

The Lockheed Lodestar was a much bigger and more robust aircraft than the Electra. Almost a fully fledged airliner, it could take 14 passengers at 280 mph for 3,800 miles, powered by two Wright Cyclone radial engines. At the outbreak of war, many were impressed into US Air Force service under a range of designations, chiefly C-60. Many survive as luxury executive transports for people with a sense of history and nostalgia.

This Lodestar was at Paine in September 1981.

The Lockheed JetStar first flew in September 1957, making it one of the earliest of the new breed of executive jets. It is unique among the purpose built business jets in having four engines, which is good for speed and safety but not so good for range (its range is only 2,200 miles, even with those huge fuel tanks in the wings). It is however a very luxurious way of getting ten people about. Some are used by the USAF for senior generals, designated C-140.

This JetStar 731, with uprated engines, was at Beauvais in France in June 1979.