The Aerospatiale SN.601 Corvette is a twin-engine executive jet aircraft for two crew and up to 14 passengers.
In 1967, Nord Aviation started 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 1 January 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 16 July 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 20 December 1972. The SN-601 Corvette entered production
at St.Nazaire in 1973. When production of the Corvette ended in 1977, only 40 were built.
In February 1977, the executive jet travel company Jetstar Holland BV was founded 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 19 July 1977
and PH-JSC, which was registered on 16 June 1977. A third Corvette, the PH-JSD (c/n 36, ex: F-BTTS),
was registered with Jetstar Holland BV on 25 October 1978. With the lease of another aircraft of the
type, Aérospatiale SN.601 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. Corvette PH-JSC returned to Aérospatiale and the registration PH-JSC was cancelled
on 9 January 1981, registration PH‑JSC was cancelled. The aircraft was registered F-GDAZ with Aérospatiale on 22 June 1981.
On 8 August 1983, regsitration F-GDAZ was cancelled and the Corvette was reregistered as YV-589CP; YV-01CP; F-ODSR; 5R-MVD and
F-ODSR. In 2004, the 1977-built Corvette F-ODSR was offered for sale by Groupe Aerostock at Paris-Le Bourget airport.
The aircraft was scrapped and registration F-ODSR was cancelled on 12 April 2007.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
