"Spiv" wrote

...

I don't think

That is the first valid statement I've seen you make.

the US had a Viscount equiv, selling very well in the USA.
Only the British and French had small jet commuter planes at one point and
the first executive jet was the HS 125.

No, the first Business Jet ( Lockheed JetStar ) was being prepared for
delivery to its first commercial customer (delivered late 1961) before de
Havilland announced the development of the DH 125 (later HS 125) in February
1961.