Since its inception, Learjet has been a pioneering brand in the private aviation sector. Bombardier, its parent company since 1990, stopped production of new Learjet models in 2022. With over 2,000 aircraft still flying, Learjet is not going away just yet and has a fascinating history that has shaped the private aviation sector as it is today.
Learjet’s first business jet
Since its inception in 1962, Canadian-owned Learjet (formerly Lear Jet) has been hugely innovative. During the 1960s and into the early 1970s, private aviation primarily aimed to save time and reduce the hassle of flights within a few hours’ distances. It was in this context that Learjet embarked on manufacturing high-speed luxury business jets.
In 1964, the company unveiled its first business jet, the Learjet 23. Drawing inspiration from the Swiss-designed single-engine ground-attack FFA P-16 fighter jet, the Learjet 23 was one of the first dedicated business jets ever built. The Learjet 23, which rapidly evolved from its conception to production and attained cult status, was the creation of Bill Lear, a self-taught inventor and high-school dropout originally from Hannibal, Missouri.
Learjet’s first twinjet was made entirely of metal and could accommodate four to six passengers and two pilots. Powered by General Electric CJ 610-1 turbojet engines, the aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 903 kilometers per hour, comparable to that of the Boeing 707. Interestingly, the Learjet 23 had the capability to outclimb a US Air Force F-86 Sabre at altitudes of up to 40,000 feet.
Accidents came to haunt Learjet. Although it boasted a sleek, elegant design and high speed, with user-friendly features for pilots, the early era of business jets was plagued by frequent instances of pilot error. Within three years of the first sales, 23 out of 104 Learjets crashed, resulting in four fatalities.
Production of the Learjet 23 ended in 1966 after 101 Learjet 23s had been delivered.
Later years
A series of additional Learjet models were introduced subsequently. Among them were the larger Learjet 24 and Learjet 25, of which 259 and 369 units were built, respectively. Following a merger with Gates Aviation in 1967, the company ventured into producing the Learjet 28 and its long-range counterpart, the Learjet 29, along with the larger Learjet 55 and the Learjet 31.
In the 1990s, Bombardier acquired Learjet, and production continued under the Bombardier Learjet series. Production included the eight-passenger Learjet 60, the newly designed nine-passenger Learjet 45 model, and the Learjet 70/75.
Photo: Rob Wilson/Shutterstock
In 2007, Bombardier introduced a new aircraft program, the Learjet 85. The Learjet 85 was engineered to occupy a niche in the midsize market. It was the first Bombardier business jet to incorporate a composite structure. The aircraft’s performance goals included a high-speed cruise reaching Mach 0.82 and a range of up to 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 kilometers). However, seven years later, Bombardier decided to suspend the program.
The end of the era
Bombardier announced the end of production of all Learjet models in February 2021, as the manufacturer shifted its focus towards its larger Challenger and Global jets. The final aircraft, the Learjet 75, was delivered in March 2022, bringing 60 years of the Learjet series history to an end.
The primary issue with the Learjet is straightforward: the market demand has shifted towards larger cabin private jets with higher passenger capacity. While the Learjet series maintained its smaller design, featuring a narrower cabin with less height, other jets have become larger over time.
Between 1962 and 2022, Bombardier delivered over 3,000 Learjet aircraft. Currently, over 2,000 continue to serve on active duty.