Israel Aircraft Industries - The IAI Westwind is a business jet originally manufactured by Aero Commander as the 1121 Jet Commander. Powered by two GE CJ610 turbo engines, it first flew on 27 January 1963 and was type certified on 4 November 1964, before first delivery. The program was purchased by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in 1968, which expanded it slightly to the 1123 Westwind and converted it to the 1124 Westwind with Garrett TFE731 turbofans. The 16,800–23,500 lb (7.6–10.7 t) MTOW aircraft could carry 8 or 10 passengers and 442 were produced by 1987.
Early 1121 Jet Commanders are powered by slender CJ610 turbojet engines and have five starboard hatches and three or four frosted windows.
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Later, 1123 Westwind was lengthened 22 inches (56 cm), with end tanks and six starboard and five port windows.
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The 1124 Westwind is powered by two larger Garrett TFE731 turbofans, the Israeli Air Force Sea Scan maritime patrol aircraft has a nose radio and additional antennas.
The Westwind was originally designed by Aero Commander of the United States as a development of its twin-prop aircraft of the same name, which first flew on 27 January 1963 as the Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander.
After successful testing, the aircraft was put into series production and deliveries to customers began in early 1965.
After initial testing of the prototype, it was converted to production standard, increasing the hull length by 2.5 feet and increasing the payload and maximum weight. The second prototype first flew on 14 April 1964, followed by the first production aircraft in November 1964. The FAA granted type approval in November, allowing first customer deliveries on January 11, 1965.
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Shortly thereafter, Aero Commander was acquired by Rockwell North America. The Jet Commander was a problem because Rockwell already had a Sabreliner jet of its own design and could not keep both in production due to antitrust laws. Therefore, the company decided to sell the rights to the Jet Commander, which was purchased by IAI in 1968.
Production of the Jet Commander reached 150 aircraft in the US and Israel before IAI made several modifications to create the 1123 Westwind. These included lengthening the fuselage, increasing the maximum take-off, maximum landing and maximum zero fuel weights, with wing modifications to include double-slotted wings, overhanging leading edges and tail tanks. The truncated horizontal stabilizer has also been modified for increased range and travel.
Shortly after the aircraft was built, the original Geral Electric CJ610 turbojets were replaced with more fuel efficient Garrett TFE731 turbofans.
A number of modifications were also made to the airframe, such as overhanging wing leading edges, tail fin, modified gine pylons and nacelles, and further increases in maximum takeoff, maximum landing and maximum zero fuel weight. Along with many improvements to the on-board systems, these changes were also included, making the 1124 Westwind
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In 1976, after the Savoy Hotel in Tel Aviv was taken over by terrorists, the Israeli Air Force decided to use Westwind as a base for a maritime patrol aircraft that became known as the IAI Sea Scan. Originally developed to meet a US Coast Guard requirement to replace the Grumman HU-16 Albatross, the Dassault Falcon was chosen instead.
In 1980, the model 1124A began to be delivered; changes include the addition of a new wing section and wingtips. The improved aircraft was named the Westwind II, which replaced the original design during production. IAI built its last Westwind in 1987, after a total of 442 Jet Commanders and Westwinds were built, production was transferred to the Astra.
The Jet Commander/Westwind had a broadly conventional business jet layout with two dinos in the rear fuselage nacelles, but the wings were mounted toward the fuselage instead of the low wing arrangement typical of this aircraft class.
At FL310 and Mach 0.74 (436 kn; 808 km/h), the 1124 burns 1,600 lb (730 kg) per hour, and 1,200 lb (540 kg) at Mach 0.7 (413 kn; 764).
Aviation Photographs Of Israel Aircraft Industries Iai 1123 Westwind
The 1124N Sea Scan is a maritime surveillance aircraft, and the 1124 was dubbed the Westwind I following the introduction of the 1124A Westwind II.
1121C is the unofficial designation of the 1121 aircraft as modified by the supplementary type certificate and has been available at full weight since 1971.
[1] Licensed to Fouga. [2] Joint venture with RUAG. [3] Joint project with Rafael. [4] Joint project with DRDO. [5] Joint project with Boeing.
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