Big Radials, the developers behind several other MSFS2020 products like the JRF-6B Goose, have released the Lockheed JetStar for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. The JetStar is Big Radials 5th product for the simulator, featuring the same level of detail and expertise as with their other products.
About the Lockheed JetStar
The Lockheed JetStar was a business jet that was produced from the 1960s to the 1970s. It became the first dedicated business jet to enter service and was the only business jet built by Lockheed. For many years, it was the largest of its type and could seat up to twelve people, including two crew. Unique from other jets in the class, the Lockheed JetStar had its four engines mounted on the rear of the fuselage.
Development for the JetStar began as a private project in Lockheed to eventually be sold to the USAF. However, the USAF dropped this due to budget cuts, so Lockheed continued the project by themselves. The first two prototypes flew with two Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engines on the 4th of September 1957. The unique “slipper tanks” were originally meant to be an option but became a part of the design.
Due to failed negotiations to produce the Orpheus engine in the US, Lockheed opted for the Pratt & Whitney JT12s in 1959. These engines proved successful and so became the standard for production. The JetStar entered service in 1961 with its first flight in mid-1960. The JetStar has a cruising speed of 567mph or 0.8 Mach with a range of 2,500 miles.
Lockheed JetStar – Big Radials
Continuing with the same level of detail as their previous products, the Lockheed JetStar has been faithfully recreated and brought to life in MSFS2020. Featuring a fully native flight model with realistic sounds and 4K textures. The model also comes with 3D assets throughout the aircraft along with PBR textures.
Big Radials have included completely custom XPDR equipment (Transponder) with a fully interactive cockpit. The cockpit has those same high-detail textures and additional 3D models to encompass the uniqueness of the JetStar. A first for Big Radials is the autopilot system, which was not a part of their previous add-ons until now.
Further bringing the JetStar to life inside MSFS2020, Big Radials has many more features still a work in progress. These include more custom sounds, customer ADF instruments (radio navigation) and CIVA INS instruments (navigational aids). The external model is also still being worked on, with more changes to be made to the model and the textures.
Finishing off the aircraft features, the overhead panel is still to be completed, and a checklist is still to be added to help users get started with the JetStar along with a paint kit for community liveries. Documentation will also be added for those who have already bought the aircraft. Fun Fact: Elvis Presley owned a Lockheed JetStar for a short time during his career before selling it less than half a year later.
The Lockheed JetStar by Big Radials is available to purchase now via their store for €27.61 or £22.99. Big Radials has made it clear that this aircraft this still in its early access state and does not represent the final development product. You can read more details about this product in our previous post here. For more flight simulator-related news, check out the rest of FSNews.
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