In 1956, the USAF issued requirement for a utility transport that used to accomplish the combat flight inspection and navigation mission. Due to the budget cuts, the Air Force asked the industry-financed "off-the-shelf" prototypes. Lockheed submitted Skunk Works Jetstar design that competed against the North American Saberliner. The Jetstar was selected as the winner that designated C-140. The C-140 made its first flight in 1957, only 241 days after design completion. In 1959, Sixteen Jetstars were produced for the USAF. Five C-140As were assigned to the Air force Communications Command as flight inspection aircraft to perform airborne testing in 1962. It began service during the Vietnam War and remained in service until the early 1990s. The "Flight Check" C-140A were  a combat-coded aircraft that could be distinguished from the VIP transport version by its distinctive camouflage paint scheme. The last C-140A to be retired was placed on static display at Scott AFB, Illinois.

Type:

Purpose:

Span:

Length:

Height:

Engine:

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Utility transport

To meet a US Air Force's C-FIN requirement for an 'off-the-shelf' high-performance light transport

54ft.11in.

60ft.5in.

20ft.5in.

4x Pratt & Whitney J60-P-5 turbofan engine

575 mph

3

6 passengers

The Lockheed C-140A is suitable to group with the following collection series.

Post war U.S. Transport aircraft 1946 ~ 1962

Douglas XC-112 (C-54) Liftmaster

Curtiss XC-113 (C-46G) Commando

Douglas XC-114 (C-54) Skymaster

Douglas XC-115 (C-54) Skymaster

Douglas XC-116 (C-54) Skymaster II

Douglas C-117 (C-47) Skytrain II

Douglas C-118A (R6D-1 / C-54) Liftmaster

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Fairchild XC-120 Packplane

Lockheed C-121 Constellation

Chase YC-122 (XCG-18A) Avitruc

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

Northrop YC-125 Radier

Cessna LC-126

DeHavilland C-127 (L-20 / U-6) Beaver

Fairchild C-128 (C-119D)

Douglas YC-129 Super Dakota

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Convair C-131 Samaritan

Douglas XC-132

Douglas C-133 Cargomaster

Stroukoff C-134 (C-123B) Pantobase

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Fairchild C-136 (C-123B)

Boeing VC-137 Air Force One

Fairchild C-138 (F-27)

Lockheed SC-139 (P2V-1) Neptune

Lockheed C-140 Jetstar

Lockheed C-141 Starlifter

Ling-Temco-Vought XC-142

Curtiss-Wright XC-143 (X-19)

The Vietnam War operation 1959 ~ 1975

Skunk Works family

P-38 Lightning

P-80 Shooting Star

XF-90

F-94 Starfire

F-104 Starfighter

F-117A Nighthawk

YF-12A Interceptor

YF-22 Raptor

F-35 Lightning II

RB-69 Neptune

C-130 Hercules

C-140 Jetstar

SR-71 Blackbird

T-33 T-Bird

U-2 Dragon Lady

X-7

X-26 Q-star

X-27 Lancer

X-35

XST Have Blue

YO-3