IAI Westwind

{{Short description|Business jet}}  {{Infobox aircraft |name = Jet Commander/Westwind |image = File:IAI Westwind (2323424886).jpg |caption = The Westwind, a business aircraft with a mid-wing and two aft-mounted engines |type = [[Business jet]] |manufacturer = [[Aero Commander]] <br> [[Israel Aerospace Industries|Israel Aircraft Industries]] |designer = |first_flight = 27 January 1963<ref name=Flight14feb1963>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%200252.html |title= Sport and business |magazine= Flight International |date= 14 February 1963}}</ref> |introduction = 1965 |retired = |status = Limited service |primary_user = [[Pel-Air]] |more_users = |produced = 1965–1987 |number_built = 442 |developed_from = [[Aero Commander 500]] |developed_into = [[IAI Astra]]<br/>[[Gulfstream G100]] }}

The '''IAI Westwind''' is a [[business jet]] initially produced by [[Aero Commander]] as the '''1121 Jet Commander'''.  Powered by twin [[General Electric CJ610|GE CJ610]] turbojets, it first flew on January 27, 1963, and received its type certification on November 4, 1964, before the first delivery. The program was bought by [[Israel Aircraft Industries]] (IAI) in 1968, which stretched it slightly into the '''1123 Westwind''', and then re-engined it with [[Garrett TFE731]] turbofans into the '''1124 Westwind'''.  The {{cvt|16,800-23,500|lb|t}} [[max takeoff weight|MTOW]] aircraft can carry up to 8 or 10 passengers, and 442 were produced until 1987.

==Development== {{external media | image1 = [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFGngRiYQS0 Business Machine of the Air] – promotional film covering the early history of the aircraft }}

[[File:Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander, Private JP5962515.jpg|thumb|Early 1121 Jet Commanders are powered by thin [[General Electric CJ610|CJ610]] turbojets, and they have five starboard and three or four port windows.]] [[File:4X-CJK, at Paris Le Bourget Airport,, Marvin G Goldman collection.jpg; Ex John Wegg coll'n.jpg|thumb|Later 1123 Westwinds are stretched by {{cvt|22|in|cm}}, they have tip tanks, and six starboard and five port windows.]] [[File:4X-JYO Shimon-Kahlon a.jpg|thumb|The 1124 Westwind is powered by two larger [[Garrett TFE731]] turbofans, the Sea Scan [[maritime patrol aircraft]] of the [[Israeli Air Force]] has a nose [[radome]] and additional [[Aerial (radio)|aerial]]s.]] [[File:N993DS Israel IAI-1124 Westwind 2 (cn 356) (6837117598).jpg|thumb|The 1124A Westwind 2 has [[Wingtip device|winglets]] on the tip tanks.]]

=== Aero Commander === The Westwind was originally designed in the United States by Aero Commander as a development of its twin-propeller [[Aero Commander 500|namesake aircraft]], first flying on January 27, 1963, as the Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander.<ref>Scott A. Thompson, ''Flight Check!: The Story Of Faa Flight Inspection'' (Government Printing Office, 1990), p. 108; "Jet Commander Flies", by Gerald J. Schlaeger, ''Flying'' magazine (April 1963), p. 30</ref> After successful testing, the aircraft was put into series production with deliveries to customers beginning in early 1965.<ref name="GF"/>

After initial testing of the prototype, it was modified to production standard with an addition of 2.5 ft to the fuselage length and increased payload and maximum weights. The second prototype first flew on April 14, 1964, which was followed by the first production aircraft in November 1964. Type approval was awarded by the [[FAA]] in November, enabling the first customer delivery on January 11, 1965.

Shortly thereafter, Aero Commander was acquired by [[Rockwell International|North American Rockwell]]. The Jet Commander created a problem, since Rockwell already had an executive jet of its own design, the [[North American Sabreliner|Sabreliner]], and could not keep both in production because of [[Competition law|antitrust laws]]. Therefore, the company decided to sell off the rights to the Jet Commander, which were purchased by IAI in 1968.<ref name="GF"/>

=== Israel Aircraft Industries === Jet Commander production amounted to 150 aircraft in the United States and Israel before IAI undertook a series of modifications to create the 1123 Westwind. These included stretching the fuselage and increasing maximum takeoff, maximum landing, and maximum zero-fuel weights, with the wing modified to incorporate double-slotted flaps and drooped leading edges and tip tanks. The [[stabilator|trimmable horizontal stabiliser]] was also modified to have increased span and more travel.<ref name="TC"/> Not long after the aircraft went into production, the original [[General Electric CJ610|General Electric CJ610 turbojet]] engines were replaced by more fuel-efficient [[Garrett TFE731]] [[turbofan]]s<ref name="GF"/> Numerous airframe modifications also were made, such as drooped leading edges on the wings, a dorsal fin, revised engine pylons and nacelles, and further increases in maximum takeoff, maximum landing, and maximum zero-fuel weights. With improvements to a number of onboard systems incorporated, as well, these changes resulted in the 1124 Westwind<ref name="TC"/> delivered from 1976.<ref name="GF"/>

In 1980, deliveries of the Model 1124A commenced; modifications included a new wing centre-section and the addition of [[Wingtip device|winglets]] to the tips. The revamped aircraft was called the Westwind II, replacing the original design in production. IAI built its last Westwind in 1987, after a total of 442 Jet Commanders and Westwinds had been built, switching production to the [[IAI Astra|Astra]].<ref name="GF"/>

By 2018, 1980s Westwind 1124s were priced from $300,000 to $700,000.<ref name=AINdec2018>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.ainonline.com/sites/default/files/full-issues/ain_1218.pdf |title= For many models, market hitting the apex |magazine= Aviation International News |author= Mark Huber |date= December 2018 |pages= 20–21, 24 |access-date= 2018-12-27 |archive-date= 2018-12-27 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181227181555/https://www.ainonline.com/sites/default/files/full-issues/ain_1218.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>

===Seascan ===

In 1976, in the wake of the [[Savoy Hotel attack|terrorist takeover of the Savoy hotel]] in Tel Aviv, the [[Israeli Air Force]] decided to use the Westwind as the basis for a maritime patrol aircraft, which became known as the IAI Sea Scan. It had originally been developed to meet a requirement for the United States Coast Guard to replace the Grumman HU-16 Albatross, but they selected the [[Dassault Falcon]] instead.{{cn|date=May 2026}}

IAI produced Seascan nicknamed "Seagull" ({{langx|he|שחף|Shahhaf}}) since 1976, based on Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander. The last one retired in 2017.<ref>[https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dav/1976/09/20/01/article/140?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1&utm_source=he.wikipedia.org&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=%22%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%95%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%93%22&utm_content=itonut מתכננים "ווסטווינד‭-"‬מדגם חדש לסיוע טקטי לחילות ים], ''[[Davar]]'', September 20, 1976 </ref>.<ref>[https://www.key.aero/article/israel-retires-last-seascan Israel Retires Last Seascan], 16 March 2017</ref>

==Design== The Jet Commander/Westwind was of broadly conventional business jet arrangement, with two engines mounted in [[nacelle]]s carried on the rear fuselage, but the wings were mounted halfway up the fuselage instead of the typical low-wing arrangement of aircraft in this class.

At FL310 and {{cvt|0.74|Mach|altitude_ft=31000|kn km/h|0}}, the 1124 burns {{cvt|1600|lb}} per hour, and {{cvt|{{#expr:1600-400}}|lb}} at {{cvt|0.7|Mach|altitude_ft=31000|kn km/h|0}}.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978%20-%203014.html |title= Westwind 1124 in the air |author= Hugh Field |magazine= Flight International |date= 25 November 1978 }}</ref>

==Variants==

{| class="wikitable" |+ Type certificate data sheet<ref name="TC">{{cite web |url= http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/ad46abf7e926a72f8525672700701087/$FILE/A2SW.pdf |title= FAA Type Certificate Number A2SW |publisher= FAA |date= April 17, 1980}}</ref> ! ! Model !! Approved !! Engines !! Thrust !! Mmo !! Ceiling !! MTOW !! pax !! fuel !! Serials |- ! rowspan=3 | {{Rotate text|-90|Aero<br/>Commander}} ! 1121 | Nov 4, 1964 | [[CJ610]]-1/-5 | {{cvt|2,850-2,950|lbf|kN|2|disp=br}} | rowspan=5 | 0.765 | {{cvt|40,000|ft|0|disp=br}} | {{cvt|16,800-17,500|lb|0|disp=br}} | rowspan=3 | 8 | {{cvt|926|USgal|L|0|disp=br}} | 3-120 |- ! 1121A{{efn|overwing refuelling points with integral fuel tanks, new wheels, tires and brakes, improved cockpit lighting{{cn|date=October 2019}}}} | Sep 19, 1967 | CJ610-1 | {{cvt|2,850|lbf|kN|2|disp=br}} | rowspan=3 | {{cvt|41,000|ft|0|disp=br}}{{efn|with passengers, {{cvt|45,000|ft|0}} with crew only}} | rowspan=2 | {{cvt|17,500|lb|0|disp=br}} | rowspan=2 | {{cvt|1,090|USgal|L|0|disp=br}} | 121-131 |- ! 1121B | Apr 23, 1968 | CJ610-5 | {{cvt|2,950|lbf|kN|2|disp=br}} | 132-150 |- ! rowspan=3 | {{Rotate text|-90|IAI}} ! 1123{{efn|Increased fuselage length, tip tanks, double-slotted flaps and drooped leading edge, Increased horizontal tail span...}} | 8 Dec 1971 | CJ610-9{{efn|plus [[Microturbo]] SAPHIR III [[Auxiliary power unit|APU]]}} | {{cvt|3,100|lbf|kN|2|disp=br}} | {{cvt|20,700|lb|0|disp=br}} | rowspan=3 | 10 | {{cvt|{{#expr:2*(537+113)}}|USgal|l|0|disp=br}} | 36 built<ref name="GF">Frawley, Gerald. "IAI Westwind". ''The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 1997/98.'' Fyshwick ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1997. {{ISBN|1-875671-26-9}}. p. 123.</ref> |- ! 1124{{efn|Improved drooped leading edge, added dorsal fin, new pod and pylon shapes, new wheel well fairing... }} | 17 Mar 1976 | rowspan=2 | [[TFE-731]]-3-1G | rowspan=2 | {{cvt|3,700|lbf|kN|2|disp=br}} | rowspan=2 | {{cvt|45,000|ft|0|disp=br}} | rowspan=2 | {{cvt|23,500|lb|0|disp=br}} | rowspan=2 | {{cvt|{{#expr:2*(537+113)+100}}|USgal|l|0|disp=br}} | |- ! 1124A{{efn|winglets on the wing tip tanks, New leading edge profile}} | Apr 17, 1980 | 0.785 | |} {{notelist}} The 1122 Type Certificate was cancelled, the two airplanes manufactured have been converted to model 1123.<ref name="TC"/> The 1124N Sea Scan is a maritime surveillance aircraft, and the 1124 was renamed Westwind I after the introduction of the 1124A Westwind II.<ref name="GF"/> The 1121C is an unofficial designation for 1121 aircraft modified under a Supplemental Type Certificate with an increased all-up weight available from 1971.{{cn|date=October 2019}} The 1123 Westwind was stretched by {{cvt|22|in|cm}}.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%202951.html |title= At the NBAA convention |magazine= Flight International |date= 9 October 1969}}</ref>

==Operators==

===Civil operators=== {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| ;{{AUS}} *[[Pel-Air]]: six, of which four are in aero medical configuration. *[[Medex Aero]]: three, two of which are in aero medical configuration and one in corporate configuration ;{{CAN}} *[[Discovery Air Defence]] *SkyCare Air Ambulance

;{{BRA}} *Brasil Vida Táxi Aéreo: four aircraft, two in aero medical configuration ;{{FIJ}} *[[Helipro Fiji]]: one aircraft is in aero medical configuration.

;{{PHL}} *[[Lionair_(Philippines)|Lionair]]

;{{USA}} *[[Avalair Aircraft Management]] *[[Federal Aviation Administration]] *[[Nomadic Aviation Group]] *[[North Country Aviation]] }}

===Military operators=== {{columns-list|colwidth=25em| ;{{CHL}} *[[Chilean Navy]] ;{{ECU}} *[[Ecuadorian Air Force]] ;{{HON}} *[[Honduran Air Force]] - one 1123 operated during 1976.<ref name=Hartoch>Hartoch, Noam. ''Jet Commander - Westwind'' Tonbridge, Kent, England:Air-Britain (Historians), 1979. {{ISBN|0 85130 075 8}}, p. 42-44</ref> ;{{ISR}} *[[Israeli Air Force]] (inactive as of 2017) ;{{MEX}} *[[Mexican Air Force]]: Inactive ;{{PAN}} *[[Panamanian Air Force]] - one 1123 delivered in 1975<ref name=Hartoch/> ;{{UGA}} *[[Ugandan Air Force]] - one 1121N operated from 1971 to 1976 as a presidential aircraft.<ref name=Hartoch/> ;{{USA}} *[[United States Coast Guard]] - one 1123 leased in 1973 for evaluation<ref name=Hartoch/> }}

==Accidents and incidents== *The Rockwell 1121 had 21 [[hull-loss]] accidents causing 45 fatalities,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://aviation-safety.net/database/types/Rockwell-1121-Jet-Commander/statistics |title= Rockwell 1121 Statistics |date= 30 March 2020 |work= Aviation Safety Network }}</ref> and the IAI 1124 had 25 hull-loss accidents causing 47 fatalities.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://aviation-safety.net/database/types/IAI-1124-Westwind/statistics |title= IAI 1124 Statistics |date= 30 March 2020 |work= Aviation Safety Network }}</ref> *On December 15, 1993, a chartered IAI Westwind [[business jet]] carrying two flight crew members and three passengers (including [[Rich Snyder]], president of [[In-N-Out Burger]]), crashed while on approach to John Wayne Airport. All five occupants were killed in the crash. The aircraft, which departed [[Brackett Field]], 30 miles to the north in [[La Verne, California|La Verne]], followed a [[Boeing 757]] for landing, became caught in the 757's [[wake turbulence]], rolled into a deep descent, and crashed near the intersection of [[California State Route 55|State Route 55]] and Edinger Avenue. The crash investigation led to the [[FAA]] requirement for an adequate period between heavy aircraft and following light aircraft to allow wake turbulence to diminish.<ref>{{cite web | title = Incident Report – Israel Aircraft Industries LAX94FA073 – December 15, 1993 | publisher = National Transportation Safety Board | year = 1993 | url = https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001211X13867&ntsbno=LAX94FA073&akey=1 | access-date = December 24, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130315131214/https://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001211X13867&ntsbno=LAX94FA073&akey=1 | archive-date = March 15, 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref> *On 2 July 2004, an IAI Westwind operated by Air Tek crashed after takeoff and eventually came to rest inside an empty hangar. All 6 occupants were killed, along with an airport worker on the ground.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=20040702-0|title=N280AT|accessdate= 12 October 2023}}</ref> *On 18 June 2014, an IAI Westwind corporate aircraft crashed upon takeoff, killing all three on board.<ref name="alcom140618">{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Grass |newspaper=[[The Huntsville Times]] |publisher=[[AL.com]] |title=Plane crash at Huntsville International Airport claims 3 lives |url=http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/06/huntsville_airport_plane_fire.html |date=June 18, 2014 |access-date=June 19, 2014}}</ref><ref name="alcom140619">{{cite news |first1=Carol |last1=Robinson |first2=Tiffany |last2=Davidson |newspaper=[[The Huntsville Times]] |publisher=[[AL.com]] |title=3 men killed in Wednesday plane crash identified |url=http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/06/birmingham_pilot_identified_by.html |date=June 19, 2014 |access-date=June 19, 2014}}</ref> *On 29 March, 2020, an [[air ambulance]] operated by [[Lionair (Philippines)|Lionair]], caught fire and exploded during take off at [[Manila Airport]], killing all five passengers and three crew.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/world/asia/lion-air-crash-philippines-coronavirus.html |title=8 Killed After Philippine Plane Bursts Into Flames |author= Jason Gutierrez |date=2020-03-29 |website=The New York Times |url-access= subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/plane-crash-philippines-manila-airport-naia-lionair-12587828 |title= Eight killed after medical evacuation plane crashes in Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport |date= 2020-03-29 |website= [[Channel News Asia]] |access-date= 2020-03-30 |archive-date= 2020-03-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200330081806/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/plane-crash-philippines-manila-airport-naia-lionair-12587828 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Specifications (1124A Westwind II)== [[File:IAI 1124 Westwind II 3-view line drawing.jpg|thumb|IAI Westwind II]] {{Aircraft specs |ref=''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83'' <ref name="Janes 82 p124-6">[[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor, John W. R.]] ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83''. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. {{ISBN|0-7106-0748-2}}, pp. 124–126.</ref> |prime units?=met  |crew=2 |capacity=7 pax normal (maximum 10) / {{cvt|1474|kg|0}} maximum payload |length m=15.93 |length note= |span m=13.65 |span note=, {{cvt|13.16|m|0}} excluding tip tanks |height m=4.81 |height note= |wing area sqm=28.64 |wing area note= |aspect ratio={{#expr:13.65/(28.64/13.65)round2}} |airfoil=IAI 54-12 (Sigma 1 modified)<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref> |empty weight kg={{#expr:6010-1474}}  |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg=10660 |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity={{cvt|4345|kg|0}} |more general=  |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=[[Honeywell TFE731-3-1G]] |eng1 type=[[turbofan]] engines |eng1 kn=16.46 |eng1 note=  |max speed kmh= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=723 |cruise speed note=economical at {{cvt|11890|-|12500|m|-2}} |stall speed kmh=184 |stall speed note=at maximum landing weight, flaps down, engines idling |never exceed speed kmh=868 |never exceed speed note=at {{cvt|8840|m}} |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed note= |range km=4430 |range note=10 pax, {{cvt|5385|km|mi nmi}} with maximum fuel and four passengers |combat range km= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=13725 |ceiling sigfig=2 |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ms=25.4 |climb rate note=at sea level |time to altitude= |wing loading kg/m2=372 |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |thrust/weight= 0.31 |more performance=<br/> *'''Take-off balanced field length:''' {{cvt|1600|m}} *'''Landing run from {{cvt|15|m|0}}:''' {{cvt|747|m|-1}} at maximum landing weight |avionics= }}

==See also== {{Portal|Aviation}} * [[Aero Commander 500]] * [[British Aerospace 125]]  * [[Hamburger Flugzeugbau HFB 320 Hansa Jet]]  * [[Piaggio PD.808]]  * [[Learjet 35/36]]  * [[Cessna Citation III]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|IAI Westwind}}

* {{cite web |url= http://www.worthingtonav.com/corporate.php |title= Worthington Aviation LLC |quote= the Westwind Global Support provider |access-date= 2019-10-08 |archive-date= 2019-10-08 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191008082351/http://www.worthingtonav.com/corporate.php |url-status= dead }} * {{cite news |url= https://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/westwind-ii |title= Westwind II |author= Mark Huber |date= June 2010 |work= Business Jet Traveler}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iai Westwind}} [[Category:Aero Commander aircraft]] [[Category:Israel Aerospace Industries aircraft]] [[Category:1960s Israeli business aircraft]] [[Category:1960s United States business aircraft]] [[Category:Twinjets]] [[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1963]] [[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]