Learjet

Learjet is the trademark of a family of twin-engine business jet. They are manufactured Learjet since 1990 under the leadership of Bombardier. Bombardier subsidiary in Wichita ( Kansas) trading as Learjet Inc. Before that, there were a number of company names of the aircraft manufacturer, with the goal of all this business was the manufacture of small jet aircraft.

History

1962-1969

End of the fifties, the businessman William P. Lear developed a twin-engine business jet. On the production and marketing of his design, he founded in Switzerland, the Swiss American Aviation Corporation ( SAAC ). Lear business jet should get the name of SAAC -23.

Then he saw better market opportunities for its development in the United States, Lear moved the company's headquarters in 1962 to Wichita, Kansas. There began in February, the assembly of the now -called Learjet aircraft, the Learjet No. 1 The wings came from the planned Swiss fighter aircraft FFA P- 16th

In April 1963 arose from the SAAC Lear Jet Corporation. The first prototype flew on October 7, 1963. Than a year later, on October 13, 1964, the first production aircraft was delivered, a Learjet 23 The model was positive customer feedback and has been further developed. In 1966 the Learjet Model 24 This model has been authorized under the conditions of a transport machine, a first for a business jet. This year also saw the first flight of the model Learjet 25 took place. On September 19, 1966, the company was renamed Lear Jet Industries Inc. after more than 100 machines have been delivered.

The Gates Rubber Company rose in 1967, the Lear Jet Industries Inc., to market the aircraft worldwide. For the Gates Aviation was founded. Already on 27 November 1968, the 200th machine was delivered.

William P. Lear left the company in 1969. He died on 14 May 1978 in Reno ( Nevada).

1969-1987

Merged in 1969 Lear Jet Industries Inc. and the Gates Learjet Gates to Aviation.

The Model 25 in 1972 equipped with turbines Garrett AiResearch TFE731 of type -2. It was a turbofan engine, which is much quieter and more fuel efficient than the engines used previously. Also this year, Learjet received approval to be able to boot from unpaved runways.

The new model Learjet 35 was launched on August 22, 1973 for its first flight. The following year, this guy and the Learjet 36 received approval. In 1975, the 500th Learjet was delivered.

The new models of the Learjet 24/25 received in 1977 the admission to the hitherto unreached for a commercial airliner altitude of 15545 meters, ie. 51,000 feet to operate. On 24 August of the same year, the first flight of the model Learjet 28 was

In 1979 the admission of the Learjet 28/29. On April 19, the prototype of the all-new series Learjet 54/55/56 launched its maiden flight. 1980, the 1000th Learjet was delivered. In the following years many improvements of the existing types have been performed. It originated versions with extended range. 1983 ordered the Ministry of Defense of the United States 80 aircraft Learjet 35 It was founded in a space division, which later won the contract to produce components for the solid rocket boosters of the Space Shuttle. In the fall of 1984, the production of aircraft was temporarily stopped until the large stocks were eliminated. 1986 new production were based in Tucson, Arizona and moved the company's management there. Subsequently, the aircraft production in Tucson and Wichita is rebooted.

In the fall of 1987, the Integrated Acquisition, Inc. took over control of the Gates Learjet Corporation, shortly after the company was renamed in Learjet Corporation. Production was moved from Arizona moved back to Kansas.

Since 1987

On 29 June 1990, Bombardier Aerospace took over the Learjet Corporation. The current stage of development of type 60, the Learjet 60XR, had its first flight on 3 April 2006. FAA certification was granted on 4 June 2007, the commissioning began on 30 July 2007.

On 16 June 2006, the models were 45 and 60 are both sold at each 300th time. The 300th Learjet 45 went to the United States, the 300th Learjet 60 to Finland.

The project made ​​of fiber composites Learjet 85 (temporary internal project name: Learjet NXT ). Began on 30 October 2007 Since this is a departure from the classic metal construction in which all previous models were made ​​, it is a completely new design. 2012 Bombardier introduced the successor models of the Learjet 40XR and 45XR Learjet 70 and 75 as before.