History of IAI Westwind: From military roots to private aviation

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), the largest aerospace and aviation manufacturer in Israel, has a long history of producing aerial and aerospace systems for both military and civilian use. Founded in 1953 as Bedek Aviation Company, the company was developed under the guidance of Shimon Peres, then Director General of the Ministry of Defense. Peres aimed to establish a company capable of maintaining and upgrading aircraft operated by the Israel Defense Forces. He appointed Al Schwimmer, a renowned aviation engineer and designer, as the company's first president.

By 1959, Bedek Aviation Company began manufacturing entire aircraft, starting with the Fouga CM.170 Magister, a twinjet trainer used by the Israel Defense Forces. In response to a French embargo in 1967, IAI started designing its own fighter aircraft based on Dassault Mirage 5.

In 1969, IAI acquired the Jet Commander series from North American Rockwell. This acquisition led to the development of several business jets, including the IAI Westwind. By partnering with Gulfstream Aerospace in the 1990s, IAI expanded its production capabilities to include aircraft such as the Gulfstream G280.