Cessna 500 Citation

PH-JSC Aerospatiale SN.601 Corvette c/n 35 of Jetstar Holland, at Groningen Airport Eelde in Holland on July 21, 1977

more at Groningen Airport Eelde

The Aerospatiale SN.601 Corvette is a twin-engine executive jet aircraft for two crew and up to 14 passengers. Nord Aviation started in 1967 design studies for a light business jet known as the Nord 400. Sud-Aviation was also working on a business jet and in 1968 it was decided to join the projects. The co-operation resulted early 1969 in the SN-600, a low wing business jet with two Larzac engines in rear fuselage pods. On January 1st 1970 the main three French nationalised aircraft companies - Sud-Aviation, Nord Aviation and the missile manufacturing company, SEREB - were merged into Aérospatiale. As a result of this merger the SN-600 became an Aerospatiale project. The first prototype SN-600, F-WRSN c/ 01, first flew on July 16 1970. Two Pratt & Whitney JT15D-1 turbojets powered this aircraft. As a result of the test program the aircraft was redesigned. The production version of the SN-600, the SN-601, had a stretched fuselage, a taller fin and more powerful Pratt & Whitney JT15D-4 turbofans. The first SN-601, F-WUAS c/n 1, made its maiden flight on December 20th 1972. The SN-601 Corvette entered production at St.Nazaire in 1973. When production of the Corvette ended in 1977, only 40 were built.

The executive jet travel company Jetstar Holland BV was founded in February 1977 by John de Block. Based at Amsterdam-Schiphol in the Netherlands, Jetstar Holland started their operations with the two Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette: PH-JSB (c/n 26, ex. F-ODFQ), which was registered on July 19, 1977 and PH-JSC, which was registered on June 16, 1977. A third Corvette, the PH-JSD (c/n 36, ex: F-BTTS), was registered on October 25, 1978 with Jetstar Holland BV. With the lease of another aircraft of the type, the S/N.600 Corvette F-BVPC (c/n 12), four Corvette executive jets were operated by Jetstar Holland BV. The investments trust Christoffel, owner of the travel union Christoffel Reizen wanted to grow in aviation. They owned some aeroplanes and were active in Rotterdam Airlines and purchased Jetstar Holland and Business Air Services BV. After the investments trust Christoffel bought Jetstar Holland BV, John de Block left the company. After the investment trust Christoffel ran into financial problems Jetstar Holland BV ceased operations. The registration PH-JSC was cancelled on January 9, 1981 and the Corvette returned to France and was registered F-GDAZ. It was reregistered as YV-589CP; YV-01CP; F-ODSR; 5R-MVD and F-ODSR. In 2004 this 1977 built Corvette was offered for sale by Groupe Aerostock at Paris-Le Bourget airport as F-ODSR.