Is it me, or are the old IAI Westwinds/Commander Jet's rather sexy? I still think their design looks modern and fresh. That midwing behind the cabin and those big fans at the back. And especially those twin front wheels makes it look aggressive and cool.

Anyone ever fly one?

Mid-wing look, your A* isn't even gone yet.

I spent a few years in the 90's flying WW I and II's. It was the first jet that I got comfortable in. You've got to be the first person to claim it's sexy, lol. It was always compared to other mid-sized jets like Hawkers and Citation III and VII's, but at a cheaper price. I don't regret ever flying one and learned quite a bit as a right seat 135 guy. My recollection was something like this; it flies like a cement truck until you land, then it promptly turns into a shopping cart full of watermelons.

All kidding aside, they are a great ride. The mid-wing caused some flap issues, but other than that it was a solid plane, known as the Bagel Bomber, Yom Kipper Clipper, Jew Canoe, etc. Obviously built in Israel.

You can sure buy one on the cheap now.

Steve,
Have not heard those terms since 1981 when I used to walk by a new Westwind II the one with winglets in the PDQ hangar to and from the line to my lowly Aerostar. I thought it was a beautiful aircraft with its low slung fuselage. Those who love commanders love the top of the line jet commanders regardless if they were called Westwinds at the end of their production cycle.

Adam,

Ted Smith had a hand in all of them. Probably why you went from a Commander to an Aerostar and back to a Commander. Look at them side by side and they are very similar. You'll be buying a Sabreliner next, it's a cousin too. Then you will go to the Astra. Ted was long gone by then, but his influence is there.

If they'd done it single pilot I'd be all over it!

Isn't the Astra a Westwind on stilts?

Those wings are not heated? Looks like boots?

But yes nice looking, Adam, I agree. Especially when you think of the price.
Oh but if it were single pilot.....

Boots. Right up until the last model of the series, the G100.

The Jet Commander (1121) was originally designed to be ice protected electrically hence, the large AC generators. Before production commenced it was decided to use boots for wings and tail. The inlets for the GE CJ-610 engines were electric and changed over to bleed air at somepoint after sn 25. Lear 23's also were equipped with electric inlets and later upgraded to bleed air. I can only recall seeing a 2 or 3 early Lears and no AC-1121's that were not retrofitted to bleed air. As for boots, in the three years or so that I flew the 1121B, I can't recall a single time that I ever needed to use them, even in the wintertime in the Northeast.
MM

My dad flew a Jet Commander in the 70's and then Westwinds in the 80's and 90's, followed by an Astra in the 2000's. The lineage is near and dear to my heart. First jet I ever rode in was a Jet Commander, first I flew was a Westwind. I have lot's of stories from my dad flying them. What a difference from contemporary jets. Fuel was critical, they didn't even start the second engine till time to takeoff at the end of the runway. Dad taxied in on fumes often, 'just the way it was back then. Nowadays we never get fuel critical, never even sweat the fuel unless we just screwed up.

I got to fly the Astra he retired in. Sat in the seat he flew for years. What an honor.



Next to my Travel Air in the company hangar:

I have about 4 hours in one back in my 135 days. I was flying a Lear 25 and got to fly some practice approaches with the D.O. in our Westwind. Your description is remarkably reminiscent of my experience. It was certainly a good IFR platform. Once you got it set up it flew an ILS like it was on rails, but the words 'Joy to Fly' did not pop to mind

I currently fly a 1981 Westwind I. Having come from 9,000+ hours in a CRJ it was quite the wake up going from glass back to steam gauges. My friend bought one and I agreed to fly right seat with him. They are dirt cheap ($600k) to buy for a jet, 3,000 nm range @ M.74. MX has actually been pretty good and it's on an hourly basis, not calender. It's really the best bang for the buck you can get in a jet. Yes, they have boots.... but for Part 91 type flying were you don't HAVE to go it's more than up for the job.

There's a reason this and many other jets are not single pilot. Smoking holes is the main reason I'd say.

How much does it burn up at altitude, James?