Business & Commercial Aviation News from February 1965

Jessica A. Salerno

Merlin II, from February 1965 issue of Business & Commercial Aviation

The Merlin I and II, the new executive twin-engine, pressurized, 7- to 8-place airplanes will be built and sold by Swearingen Aircraft, San Antonio, Texas. The first production model will be the Merlin II (shown), 280 mph cruise turboprop scheduled for initial flight in March. Merlin wings are from Beech Twin Bonanzas, which gives Swearingen a source of complete wing, tanks and main gear assemblies.

Turbo-Commander, from February 1965 issue of Business & Commercial Aviation

Turbo-Commander celebrated New Year’s Eve in style last year by making its first flight. Maiden flight was on Dec. 31, 1964, and beat out the manufacturer’s own predictions that it would take to the air sometime in mid-January. Deliveries are expected to begin in June 1965.

Turbocharged Piper, from February 1965 issue of Business & Commercial Aviation

A new Piper twin will use two 310-hp turbocharged Lycoming engines, hold 6-8 passengers and sell for under $100,000. The aircraft is now in flight test and will have a top speed of 260 mph at FL 160.

Front cover of the February 1965 issue of Business & Commercial Aviation

Capable of out-climbing many military aircraft, and with its high-speed cruise of 535 mph, the fastest of the “biz” jets, Bill Lear’s Lear Jet, has already logged over 200 flight hours in corporate operation. Unofficial figures are that almost 100 of these 6-passenger transports have been ordered. The Lear Jet recently had a slight price boost and now costs $595,000, but still represents a “buy” since the tag includes all navcom, interiors, other niceties usually classified as options extras.

Sylvania long-life electronic tubes, advertised in February 1965 issue of Business & Commercial Aviation

Long-life electronic tubes, proven by outstanding performance and characteristics over long periods of testing and in actual use. Sylvania was a subsidiary of GT&E (General Telephone & Electronics).

The February 1965 issue of Business & Commercial Aviation included these news items as well as the aircraft in the image gallery:

  • “‘Some high octane stations are giving trading stamps.’ He produced a sheaf of green stamps large enough to evoke a Saturday stampede at the A&P." – Torch Lewis, B&CA
  • Fan Jet Falcon orders now number 40 according to Pan Am Business Jets Division. First production model flew on New Year’s Day and has accumulated some 15 hr. at this time. Pan Am will receive two demonstrators plus four customer airplanes in May. FAA certification is also scheduled for May.
  • General aviation aircraft, deliveries will approach 11,000 units in 1965, according to Cessna President Del Roskam, who added his company’s share of this total would be “over 5,000 planes.” Both goals represent substantial increases over 1964, which saw about 9,200 units with Cessna turning out a record 4,188 aircraft.
  • The apparent surge to business jets by corporations listed among Fortune’s 500 creates a little considered problem of what to do with the present corporate aircraft.
  • De Havilland DH-125 box score shows a total of 57 of the British twin-jets sold. Of these, 26 were bought in North America.
Jessica A. Salerno

Jessica is Executive Editor of Business & Commercial Aviation magazine. She started as Editor of ShowNews Online, Aviation Week's on-site trade show daily published at the Paris Air Show, NBAA Annual Convention, Singapore Air Show and at other significant aerospace gatherings.

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