U.S. Air Force Lockheed VC-140B JetStar

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The Lockheed JetStar, designated the L-329 and L-1329, was a business jet produced by the Lockheed Corporation from the early 1960s and into the 1970s. The JetStar was the first dedicated business jet to enter service as well as the only type of airplane built by Lockheed. The JetStar was also one of the largest aircraft in this class for many years, seating up to ten passengers plus two crew members. It is distinguishable from other small jets by the four engines that were mounted on the rear of the fuselage along with the “slipper”-style fuel tanks fixed into the wings.

Sixteen JetStars were produced for the United States Air Force (USAF) and they were designated as the C-140. Five of the C-140As were used as flight inspection aircraft for the Air Force Communications Service where they performed airborne testing of the airport navigational aids beginning in 1962. The “Flight Check” C-140As could be distinguished from the VIP transport version by their distinctive paint scheme. The C-140A’s would remain in service until the early 1990s when the last C-140A to be retired was placed on static display at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

An additional eleven airframes were designated the C-140B when it was first delivered in 1961. The C-140Bs were used to transport personnel by the Military Airlift Command and six of the aircraft (tail numbers 61-2488, 61-2489, 61-2490, 61-2491, 61-2492 and 61-2493) were operated as VIP transports by the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base. These VIP aircraft were designated as VC-140Bs. During the presidency of Jimmy Carter, he used a dedicated VC-140B extensively for short trips and it was known within the Special Air Missions Wing as “Peanut One.” Several other countries, such as Germany and Canada, have used military JetStars as transports for their heads of state, heads of government, and other VIPs.

The Vice President of the United States, Hubert H. Humphrey, came to Albuquerque, New Mexico in a Lockheed VC-140B to deliver a speech and tour Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia Labs on April 7, 1966.

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