View source for Learjet

{{Short description|Manufacturer of business jets}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Learjet
| logo = Bombardier-Learjet.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| defunct = 2021
| fate = Acquired by [[Bombardier Aerospace]] in 1990, production ceased in 2021
| successor =
| foundation = 1962<ref name=enbri>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/850225/Bombardier-Inc Bombardier Inc.], [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]</ref>
| founder = [[Bill Lear]]
| location = [[Wichita, Kansas]]
| parent = [[Bombardier Aviation]] (1990–2021)
| subsid = [[Brantly Helicopter Corporation]] (1966–1969)
}}
'''Learjet''' was a manufacturer of [[business jet]]s for civilian and military use based in [[Wichita, Kansas]], United States. Founded in the late 1950s by [[William Powell Lear]] as '''Swiss American Aviation Corporation''', it became a subsidiary of Canadian [[Bombardier Aerospace]] in 1990, which marketed the company’s aircraft as the "Bombardier Learjet Family". The 3,000th Learjet was delivered in June 2017.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://businessaircraft.bombardier.com/en/news-events/bombardier-marks-major-milestone-delivery-3000th-learjet-aircraft-manufactured |title= Bombardier Marks Major Milestone with Delivery of 3,000th Learjet Aircraft Manufactured |date= 2 Jun 2017 |publisher= Bombardier}}</ref> The Learjet line was once sufficiently popular that the Learjet name became [[generic trademark|synonymous and interchangeable]] with the terms business jet or private jet in the popular vernacular.<ref name=BBC2021>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56317270 |title=Goodbye to the original celebrity private jet |last=Harper |first=Justin |date=March 12, 2021 |access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref> In February 2021, Bombardier announced the end of production for all new Learjet aircraft in 2021, with the continuation of support and maintenance for aircraft currently in service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/bombardier-announces-the-elimination-of-1-600-positions-and-end-of-the-learjet-1.5304555|title=Bombardier announces the elimination of 1,600 positions and end of the Learjet|first=Jon|last=Victor|date=February 11, 2021|website=Montreal}}</ref><ref name=BBC2021/>
==History==
[[File:Learjet 23 der NASA.jpg|thumb|right|The company's first aircraft, the [[Learjet 23]]]]
Learjet was one of the first companies to manufacture a private, luxury [[aircraft]]. Lear's preliminary design was based upon an experimental American military aircraft known as the [[Mississippi State University XV-11 Marvel|Marvel]], substituting fuselage-mounted turbojet engines for ducted fan turboshaft engines.<ref>Condon, Peter. Flying the Classic Learjet. Dorval: Condon. 2007.</ref>   However, that preliminary design was abandoned and the final Learjet design was instead adapted from an abortive 1950s Swiss ground-attack [[fighter aircraft]], the [[FFA P-16]].<ref name="Schweizerische Strahlflugzeuge und Strahltriebwerke">Georges Bridel, Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, Luzern 1975, {{ISBN|3 85954 902 2}}.</ref>
The basic structure of the Swiss P-16 aircraft was seen by Bill Lear and his team as a good starting point to the development of a business jet, and formed the '''Swiss American Aircraft Corporation''', located in Altenrhein, Switzerland, and staffed with design engineers from [[Switzerland]], [[Germany]] and Britain. The aircraft was originally intended to be called the [[FFA SAAC-23|SAAC-23]]. The wing with its distinctive tip fuel tanks and landing gear of the first Learjets were little changed from those used by the fighter prototypes. Although building the first jet started in Switzerland, the tooling for building the aircraft was moved to Wichita, Kansas, in 1962. Bill Jr stated that it took too long to get anything done in Switzerland despite the cheaper labor costs.<ref>Frickler, John. "Switzerland's P-16: Father of the Learjet." ''[[Air International]]'', March 1991, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp.&nbsp;139–146.
</ref> LearJet was in a temporary office which opened in September 1962 while the plant at Wichita's airport was under construction. On February 7, 1963, assembly of the first Learjet began. The next year, the company was renamed the '''Lear Jet Corporation'''.
The original [[Learjet 23]] was a six- to eight-seater and [[maiden flight|first flew]] on October 7, 1963, with the first production model being delivered in October 1964. Just over a month later, Lear Jet became a publicly owned corporation. Several derived models followed, with the [[Learjet 24|Model 24]] first flying on February 24, 1966, and the [[Learjet 25|Model 25]] first flying on August 12, 1966. On September 19 of the same year, the company was renamed '''Lear Jet Industries Inc.'''
===Merger with Gates Aviation===
[[File:Learjet US4050651A patent.png|thumb|Gates Learjet patent filed June 24, 1976, showing the initial Learjet configuration with tip tanks]]
[[File:Learjet US4240597A patent.png|thumb|Gates Learjet patent filed Aug 28, 1978, showing the later Learjet configuration with winglets]]
On April 10, 1967, Bill Lear's approximately 60% share of the venture was acquired by the [[Gates Rubber Company]] of [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], for [[US$]] 27 million ({{Inflation|US|27000000|1967|r=0|fmt=eq}}).  Lear remained on the company board until April 2, 1969, when the company was merged with Gates Aviation Corporation and was renamed '''Gates Learjet Corporation'''. In 1971, the first Model 25 powered by a [[Honeywell TFE731|Garrett TFE731-2]] [[turbofan]] engine was flown. This aircraft later became the successful [[Learjet 35]]. That year, the company was awarded the [[President's "E" Award]] for promoting export sales.
In 1974, the worldwide Learjet fleet had exceeded the one-million flight hours mark and, in 1975, the company produced its 500th jet, both industry firsts. By late 1976, the company increased monthly aircraft production to ten.
On August 24, 1977, the [[Learjet 28/29|Learjet 28]] made its first flight. It was based on the Learjet 25, but received a completely new wing fitted with [[Wingtip device#Winglet|winglets]]. These resulted in both improved performance and fuel economy and inspired the name "Longhorn" for the short-lived Learjet 28/29 and for some of the more successful models that followed.
On April 19, 1979, the prototype for the [[Learjet 55|Model 54/55/56]] series made its first flight, and on July 7, 1983, a standard production Model 55 set six new time-to-climb records for its weight class.
In 1984, Gates Learjet announced the start of their Aerospace Division, a high technology endeavor. However, by the end of the year the company had ceased production of its commercial jets in an effort to reduce inventories. This lasted until February 1986, when the company headquarters were transferred to [[Tucson]], [[Arizona]], and production was restarted both in Wichita and Tucson.
On September 10, 1985, the Aerospace Division was awarded a contract to produce parts for the [[Space Shuttle]]'s main engines. In 1987, Gates Learjet was acquired by Integrated Acquisition and the next year the name was changed to '''Learjet Corporation'''. By January 1989, all production had been moved from the Tucson facility back to Wichita with an employment of 1,250.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Air Progress|date=February 1989|page=23}}</ref>
===Acquisition by Bombardier===
In 1990, Canadian company [[Bombardier Aerospace]] purchased the Learjet Corporation. The aircraft were then marketed as the "Bombardier Learjet Family". On October 10, 1990, the [[Learjet 60]] mid-sized aircraft had its first flight, followed on October 7, 1995, by the [[Learjet 45]].
In October 2007, Bombardier Learjet launched a brand new aircraft program, the [[Learjet 85]]. It was the first [[Federal_Aviation_Regulations#Part_25|FAR Part-25]] all-composite business aircraft.
Bombardier celebrated the 45th anniversary of the first flight by a Learjet with 2008's ''Year of Learjet campaign''. One of its highlights was British [[Formula One]] racing driver [[Lewis Hamilton]] racing a Learjet and winning an event at the [[Farnborough Air Show]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7505652.stm|title=Lewis Hamilton races Lear jet|date=July 14, 2008|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>{{importance-inline}}
On October 28, 2015 Bombardier announced cancellation of the Learjet 85 program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bombardier.com/en/media/news|title=News|website=Bombardier}}</ref>
On February 11, 2021, Bombardier announced the end production of all Learjet aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bombardier.com/en/media/nouvelle/bombardier-reports-full-year-2020-financial-results-provides-2021-guidance-and|title=Bombardier Reports Full Year 2020 Financial Results, Provides 2021 Guidance and Outlines Actions to Drive Profitability and Productivity|website=Bombardier}}</ref> Bombardier also announced they would continue to fully support the Learjet fleet well into the future, and launched the Learjet RACER re-manufacturing program for the Learjet 40 and Learjet 45 aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksn.com/news/local/bombardier-will-end-learjet-production-plans-to-focus-challenger-and-global-aircraft/|title=Bombardier will end Learjet production and cut 250 jobs in Wichita, plans to focus on Challenger and Global aircraft|date=February 11, 2021}}</ref>
As Bombardier focuses on its larger Challenger and Global jets, the final aircraft, a [[Learjet 75]], was delivered on 28 March 2022 after 60 years of production, delivering more than 3,000 aircraft, of which more than 2,000 remain in service.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/learjet-production-goes-silent-after-six-decades/148088.article |title= Learjet production goes silent after six decades |author= Jon Hemmerdinger |date= 30 March 2022 |work= Flightglobal}}</ref>
===Location===
Learjet started off in [[Wichita, Kansas]], and as of 2013 has over 3,200 employees.<ref name="Gross, Peggy 2013">Gross, Peggy. February 21, 2013. Learjet 50 Years, Bombardier Aerospace, Wichita, Kansas.</ref>  Wichita was not the only candidate for the location of Lear's project. [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]], and [[Ohio]] were also both locations that were being considered.<ref name="Gross, Peggy 2013"/> There were already a few other [[Aerospace manufacturer|aircraft companies]] that were located in Kansas, which meant there were many more potential workers who would possess the skills that Lear needed to run his company in the design and manufacturing of the aircraft.<ref name="Gross, Peggy 2013"/> Lear was offered an industrial revenue bond of 1.2 million US dollars.<ref name="Gross, Peggy 2013"/> This would be known as the first historical industrial revenue bond offered by the city.<ref name="Gross, Peggy 2013"/> To this day, the Learjet facility is still located in Wichita, Kansas, and is currently getting ready to be renovated, by expanding the Flight Test Center and building a new center for delivery.<ref>Mekhail, Natasha. "Learjet Grows Wichita Site and Workforce". Experience [Canada]. January 10th, 2013: 81. Spafax Inc. Print.</ref>
==Brand timeline==
*Lear Jet: 1962–1969
* Gates Learjet: 1969–1988
* LearJet: 1988–1990
* Bombardier Learjet: 1990–2021
==Aircraft==
[[File:Learjet45-gama.jpg|right|thumb|[[Learjet 45]] of [[Gama Aviation]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Model name
! First flight
! Number built
! Type
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 23]]
|align=center| 1963
|align=center| 101
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 24]]
|align=center| 1966
|align=center| 259
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 25]]
|align=center| 1966
|align=center| 369
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 28]]
|align=center| 1977
|align=center| 5
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 29]]
|align=center|
|align=center| 4
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 31]]
|align=center| 1987
|align=center| 246
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 35]]
|align=center| 1973
|align=center| 675+<ref name="Simpson">{{cite book |last1=Simpson |first1=R. W. |title=Airlife's General Aviation: A Guide to Postwar General Aviation Manufacturers and Their Aircraft |date=1995 |publisher=Airlife |location=England |isbn=1-85310-577-5 |page=232 |url=http://www.archive.org/details/airlifesgenerala0000simp_l8l9 |access-date=22 September 2024}}</ref>
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 36]]
|align=center|
|align=center| 64<ref>{{cite web |title=Learjet 30 Series Information |url=http://www.spectrajet.homestead.com/learjet30info.html |website=Spectra Jet |access-date=22 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060311031315/http://www.spectrajet.homestead.com/learjet30info.html |archive-date=11 March 2006}}</ref>
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 40]]
|align=center| 2002
|align=center| 133
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 45]]
|align=center| 1995
|align=center| 642
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 55]]
|align=center| 1979
|align=center| 147
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 60]]
|align=center| 1990
|align=center| 430
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 70]]
|align=center|
|align=center| 13
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 75]]
|align=center|
|align=center| 156
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|align=left| [[Learjet 85]]
|align=center| 2014
|align=center| 2
|align=left| Twin engine business jet
|-
|}
===Timeline===
{| class="toccolours collapsible"
|-
|+''Learjet timeline''
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
|colspan=2|
|colspan=7|'''Lear Jet'''<!--1962–1969-->
|colspan=19|'''Gates Learjet'''<!--1969–1988-->
|colspan=2|'''LearJet'''<!--1988–1990-->
|colspan=40|'''Bombardier Learjet'''<!--1990-2022-->
|- style="background-color:WhiteSmoke;"
|colspan=10 | 1960s
|colspan=10 | 1970s
|colspan=10 | 1980s
|colspan=10 | 1990s
|colspan=10 | 2000s
|colspan=10 | 2010s
|colspan=4 | 2020s
|- style="background-color:WhiteSmoke;"
| &nbsp;0&nbsp; || &nbsp;1&nbsp; || &nbsp;2&nbsp; || &nbsp;3&nbsp; || &nbsp;4&nbsp; || &nbsp;5&nbsp; || &nbsp;6&nbsp; || &nbsp;7&nbsp; || &nbsp;8&nbsp; || &nbsp;9&nbsp;
| &nbsp;0&nbsp; || &nbsp;1&nbsp; || &nbsp;2&nbsp; || &nbsp;3&nbsp; || &nbsp;4&nbsp; || &nbsp;5&nbsp; || &nbsp;6&nbsp; || &nbsp;7&nbsp; || &nbsp;8&nbsp; || &nbsp;9&nbsp;
| &nbsp;0&nbsp; || &nbsp;1&nbsp; || &nbsp;2&nbsp; || &nbsp;3&nbsp; || &nbsp;4&nbsp; || &nbsp;5&nbsp; || &nbsp;6&nbsp; || &nbsp;7&nbsp; || &nbsp;8&nbsp; || &nbsp;9&nbsp;
| &nbsp;0&nbsp; || &nbsp;1&nbsp; || &nbsp;2&nbsp; || &nbsp;3&nbsp; || &nbsp;4&nbsp; || &nbsp;5&nbsp; || &nbsp;6&nbsp; || &nbsp;7&nbsp; || &nbsp;8&nbsp; || &nbsp;9&nbsp;
| &nbsp;0&nbsp; || &nbsp;1&nbsp; || &nbsp;2&nbsp; || &nbsp;3&nbsp; || &nbsp;4&nbsp; || &nbsp;5&nbsp; || &nbsp;6&nbsp; || &nbsp;7&nbsp; || &nbsp;8&nbsp; || &nbsp;9&nbsp;
| &nbsp;0&nbsp; || &nbsp;1&nbsp; || &nbsp;2&nbsp; || &nbsp;3&nbsp; || &nbsp;4&nbsp; || &nbsp;5&nbsp; || &nbsp;6&nbsp; || &nbsp;7&nbsp; || &nbsp;8&nbsp; || &nbsp;9&nbsp;
| &nbsp;0&nbsp; || &nbsp;1&nbsp; || &nbsp;2&nbsp; || &nbsp;3&nbsp;
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
|colspan=2|
|colspan=4 style="background-color:PaleGreen" | [[Learjet 23]]* <!--1962–1966-->
|colspan=12 style="background-color:PaleGreen" | [[Learjet 24]]*: increased MTOW <!--1966–1977-->
|colspan=2|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=4|
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
|colspan=6|
|colspan=17 style="background-color:PaleGreen" | [[Learjet 25]]*: 24 stretch <!--1966–1982-->
|colspan=7|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=4|
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
|colspan=10|
|colspan=7|
|colspan=6 style="background-color:PaleGreen" | [[Learjet 28]]/29*: new wing <!--1977–1982-->
|colspan=4|
|colspan=17 style="background-color:PaleGreen" |[[Learjet 31]]†: 28/29 wing + 35/36 fuselage & engines <!--1987–2003-->
|colspan=6|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=4|
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
|colspan=10|
|colspan=3|
|colspan=22 style="background-color:PaleGreen"| [[Learjet 35/36]]† 25 stretch + [[TFE731]] turbofans <!-- 1973–1994-->
|colspan=5|
|colspan=2|
|colspan=11 style="background-color:PaleGoldenrod"|[[Learjet 40]]†<!--2002–2013-->: shorter 45
|colspan=9 rowspan=2 style="background-color:PaleGoldenrod"|[[Learjet 70/75]]†:<br/>improved 45 <!--2013–2022-->
|colspan=2 rowspan=2|
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=5|
|colspan=18 style="background-color:PaleGoldenrod"|[[Learjet 45]]†: new design<!--1995–2013-->
|- style="background-color:lightgray;"
|colspan=10|
|colspan=10|
|colspan=1|
|colspan=10 style="background-color:PaleTurquoise"| [[Learjet 55]]†: 28/29 Wing<!--1981–1990-->
|colspan=22 style="background-color:PaleTurquoise"| [[Learjet 60]]‡: longer 55, [[PW300]] <!--1991–2012-->
|colspan=1|
|colspan=1 style="background-color:Lavender"|[[Learjet 85|85]]‡
|colspan=5|
|colspan=4|
|-
|colspan=10| <span style="background-color:PaleGreen; padding: 0 1em">&nbsp;</span> 4.95ft cabin width
|colspan=10| <span style="background-color:PaleTurquoise; padding: 0 1em">&nbsp;</span> 5.92ft cabin width
|colspan=10| <span style="background-color:PaleGoldenrod; padding: 0 1em">&nbsp;</span> 5.12ft cabin width
|colspan=10| *: [[CJ-610]] turbojets
|colspan=10| †: [[TFE731]] turbofans
|colspan=10| ‡: [[PW300]] turbofans
|}
==See also==
* [[Canadair]]
* [[de Havilland Canada]]
* [[LearAvia Lear Fan]]
* [[LearStar 600]]—never produced by LearJet and designs sold to [[Canadair]] and became [[Bombardier Challenger 600|Canadair Challenger 600]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Learjet}}
* [http://businessaircraft.bombardier.com/en/aircraft Bombardier Learjet website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061231131658/http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/history/article.asp?id=199 Wings over Kansas: Learjet timeline ]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080304165234/http://www.yearoflearjet.com/ Year of Learjet website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080414213444/http://www.learjet85.com/ Learjet 85 website]
* {{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/flight-international/six-decades-of-style-sophistication-and-speed-a-learjet-retrospective/143255.article |title= Six decades of style, sophistication and speed: a Learjet retrospective |author= Murdo Morrison |date= 22 April 2021 |work= Flightglobal}}
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{{Learjet}}
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[[Category:Learjet aircraft| ]]
[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Bombardier Inc. acquisitions]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Kansas]]
[[Category:Companies based in Wichita, Kansas]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1962]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1990]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in Kansas]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Kansas]]