The IAI Westwind is a business jet that has a long and interesting history. It was born in the United States as the Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander, a jet-powered version of the twin-propeller Aero Commander aircraft. It made its first flight on January 27, 1963, and entered service in 1965 after receiving its type certification.
The Aero Commander 500 family was a series of light-twin aircraft that were produced from 1951 to 1986 by different companies. They had various configurations and capabilities, but they shared a common design of a high-wing monoplane with a spacious cabin and twin tail booms. They were versatile and reliable aircraft that served in many roles and regions. They were also flown by some famous pilots who showcased their performance and appeal.
The Aero Commander 100 was a light aircraft that was designed in the 1960s by Volaircraft, a small company in Pennsylvania. It was a high-wing monoplane with a metal structure and a fixed tricycle landing gear. It had a spacious cabin with 360° visibility and could seat three or four passengers, depending on the model. It was powered by a single piston engine that varied from 150 to 180 horsepower.
Antonov An-2: A Soviet Biplane Utility/Agricultural Aircraft
The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft that was designed and built in the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991. It was also produced under license in Poland, China, and North Korea. It had a NATO reporting name of Colt.
The Antonov An-10 was a four-engined turboprop passenger transport aircraft designed and built in the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s. It was developed alongside its military cargo counterpart, the Antonov An-12, and shared many features with it. It had a NATO reporting name of Cat.
The Antonov An-12 is a Soviet turboprop transport aircraft that was designed for military and civilian use. It was the military version of the Antonov An-10 passenger aircraft. It first flew in 1957 and entered service in 1959. It was the main medium-lift cargo and paratroop transport of the Soviet Air Force and its allies during the Cold War. It had a NATO reporting name of Cub.
The Antonov An-14 is a Soviet utility aircraft that was designed to carry passengers and cargo on short distances. It was first flown in 1958 and entered service in 1966. It had two radial piston engines that gave it STOL (short take-off and landing) capabilities.
The Antonov An-22 is a four-engine turboprop aircraft that was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union for heavy military and civil transport. It is the world’s largest turboprop aircraft and the first wide-body transport aircraft ever built.
The Antonov An-28 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that was developed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union for short-range transport and regional airliner roles. It is a derivative of the Antonov An-14, with a longer fuselage, a T-tail, and more powerful engines.
The Antonov An-30 is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that was developed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Soviet Union for aerial cartography and survey missions. It is a modified version of the An-24, with a distinctive glazed nose that houses the navigator and provides a wide field of view for photography.
The Antonov An-70 is a medium-range transport aircraft developed by the Soviet/Ukrainian company Antonov in the late 1980s. It is powered by four propfan engines, which are a hybrid of propeller and jet engines, offering high speed and fuel efficiency. The An-70 is the first large aircraft to fly with propfan engines only.
The Antonov An-72 is a transport aircraft developed by the Soviet/Ukrainian company Antonov in the late 1970s. It is designed for short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations on unprepared runways, and can carry up to 10 tonnes of cargo or 52 passengers. The An-72 has a distinctive appearance, with two turbofan engines mounted over the wings, creating a Coandă effect that enhances lift and reduces takeoff and landing distances.
The Airbus Beluga is a special aircraft designed to transport oversized cargo, such as aircraft components, for the aerospace industry. It is based on the Airbus A300-600 airliner, but with a much larger fuselage and a modified tail section. The name Beluga comes from the resemblance of the aircraft to the white whale of the same name.
The Dassault Falcon 2000 is a French business jet that was produced by Dassault Aviation from 1995 to 2020. It is a twin-engine, wide-body variant of the Falcon 900 trijet, with a shorter fuselage and less range. It can fly up to 3,130 nautical miles (5,796 km) at a speed of Mach 0.80 (926 km/h) with up to 10 passengers on board.
The Gulfstream G550 is a business jet aircraft that was produced by Gulfstream Aerospace from 2003 to 2021. It is a variant of the Gulfstream V with improved performance, range, and technology. It can fly up to 6,750 nautical miles (12,501 km) at a speed of Mach 0.80 (926 km/h) with up to 19 passengers on board.