Quantcast

McDonnell's ambitious business jet project failed despite innovative design

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
McDonnell's ambitious business jet project failed despite innovative design
Policy
Webp 9d8e4n9zvnq6npvse1f7c4oouh5n
Airbus A380 | Airbus

In the early 1950s, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation aimed to develop a private business jet for executives. This led to the creation of the Model 119, a four-engine aircraft with unique design features. Despite significant efforts, the project was eventually abandoned.

In 1957, McDonnell embarked on designing a jet for private companies and government agencies. The Model 119 was intended to offer luxury, speed, and efficiency for corporate travelers seeking alternatives to commercial flights. It could carry up to 12 passengers comfortably.

The Model 119 featured four Westinghouse J34-WE-36 engines mounted on its fuselage and had a V-tail configuration aimed at improving aerodynamic efficiency. It was pressurized for high-altitude flight with a maximum altitude of about 40,000 feet and could reach speeds of 400 mph with a range of 1,800 miles.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

During this period, the US Air Force announced a competition for a new utility jet that could serve multiple roles beyond executive transport. Manufacturers sought to meet these requirements through innovation in their designs.

The Model 119 was designed with this competition in mind. It performed well in tests conducted in 1959 but ultimately lost out to Lockheed's JetStar due to its more conventional design. The loss of this contract sealed the fate of the Model 119 as McDonnell couldn't justify large-scale production without sufficient market demand.

McDonnell faced tough competition from other manufacturers like Lockheed and North American Aviation. After losing the Air Force competition, McDonnell couldn't secure enough commercial interest to sustain the Model 119 program.

Despite not reaching mass production, the McDonnell Model 119 holds historical significance as an example of ambitious design that couldn't overcome market conditions or competing designs' success. Its unusual configuration demonstrated McDonnell's willingness to innovate but may have worked against it in both military and civilian markets.

McDonnell Aircraft continued focusing on military aircraft after this venture into business aviation. The company's attempt through the Model 119 is remembered as bold yet commercially unsuccessful.

Today, only aviation enthusiasts and historians remember the McDonnell Model 119 as an intriguing "what-if" story in aircraft development history.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

IndiGo has launched a new service from Mumbai to Seychelles, marking the first Indian carrier to operate this route in two decades.

Apr 1, 2025

Delta Air Lines has made changes to its flight operations between Detroit and Los Angeles, removing the Airbus A350-900 from the route's schedule.

Apr 1, 2025

Allegiant Air has announced the appointment of Victor Cipolla as manager of Inflight Training Operations.

Mar 31, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced the official launch of a global cabin crew training program by Ethiopian Aviation University.

Mar 31, 2025

Atlas Air has announced that certified flight instructors from the Atlas Cadet Academy have commenced hands-on professional development at the Atlas Training Center.

Mar 31, 2025

Hector Nazario, the husband of Kenia Nazario, who is employed at Flying Food Group (FFG), expressed concerns about the union Unite Here.

Mar 31, 2025