THE FIRST BUSINESS JETS
An unprecedented growth in the use of aircrafts as civilian transport means has market the period following World War Two. Driven by the technological progress of the conflict years, by the improvement of airport infrastructure and by a dramatic quantity of “military surplus” sold at affordable prices, hundreds of commercial aviation enterprises came to sight around the world. At the same time the business aircraft concept was consolidated: aircrafts with two or more engines and capability for night or instrument flies that could comfortably and safely transport executives, customers and guests of big corporations in business trips, without the restrictions of commercial aviation routes and schedules.
A survey carried out in June 1953 in the US verified that nearly 950 aircrafts were fit in this category. The Beechcraft Model 18 accounted for 46% of this total. The Douglas DC-3/C-47 for 20%, the Lockheed L-12 (Electra Jr), L-14 (Super Electra) and L-18 (Lodestar) for 19% and the other models for 15%. In common, all of them derived from commercial aircrafts developed before the war: piston twin-engine aircrafts with non-pressurized cabins and limited endurance. Usually, they were simple adaptations of airline or cargo machines, reconfigured for a smaller number of passengers and with more luxurious internal finishing.
In mid-1950, military fighters
