Lockheed - Manufacturer of Jetstar Aircraft

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Lockheed

Lockheed produced their version of a private jet, the Jetstar, from the mid 1960s through the 1970s. Lockheed, an American aerospace company founded in 1912, began work on the four jetted aircraft with an eye on a government contract. When the government project was dropped, the work continued at Lockheed and the JetStar was the first dedicated business aircraft on the market.

Lockheed JetStar was the first of the Lockheed private jets to be distributed commercially. The noise of the plane and its high fuel consumption brought about a redesign and the 731 JetStar was born. The JetStar IIs were very popular and Lockheed produced the plane until 1979.

Today, most of the JetStars are retired, but some are still in use in a variety of ways. Many of the original and subsequent JetStars were used for military purposes, but many more were used by those about to afford one of the first private jets. For example, Elvis Presley's JetStar is still on display at his home in Tennessee.