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Bombardier Delivers Final Production Learjet | AIN
Northern Jet Management took delivery of the Learjet 75, which marked the end of Learjet production.
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Bombardier Delivers Final Production Learjet by Jerry Siebenmark Mar 28, 2022 - 9:41 PM
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58 years in production!
I always liked the Lear's. However, they really did not do what was necessary to compete in the current market. Comfort, range, speed and altitude all fell short of the competition between specific models.
Many years ago, I worked for Harvey Hop, of Hop-a-Jet fame. He had a Lear 25 and 35. The types of charters were a bit on the crazy side. Passengers would ask for rolls, or seriously high performance takeoff's. The Lear's never let us down. The Learjet 25D we operated had the very noisy and crude GE CJ610 turbojet engines (no fans) . They made about 3000 pounds of thrust each, and empty weight was about 7500 pounds. So it was possible to fly with 2 crew and minimal fuel, and go straight up.
Many years ago, I worked for Harvey Hop, of Hop-a-Jet fame. He had a Lear 25 and 35. The types of charters were a bit on the crazy side. Passengers would ask for rolls, or seriously high performance takeoff's. The Lear's never let us down. The Learjet 25D we operated had the very noisy and crude GE CJ610 turbojet engines (no fans) . They made about 3000 pounds of thrust each, and empty weight was about 7500 pounds. So it was possible to fly with 2 crew and minimal fuel, and go straight up.
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Bill Lear is rolling over in his grave. To see a company go from a vision and be cutting-edge to becoming phased out is truly a sad day in aviation history. From what I've read, I'm not sure why Lear wouldn't keep up with aviation development. The biggest complaint I've heard is that they didn't ever go with a full stand-up cabin. Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer, and Cessna all developed cabins that someone 6'5" or so can walk without hunching over.
Sad day. I fly a Lear 45 for a living. Bombardier should have hung modern engines on the 75. It would have increased performance and decreased fuel burn. It would have made it more competitive.
I read that the fuel burn on those early CJ-610's was atrocious. And they would consume as much fuel taxiing, as they did cruising at 41,000 ft.
That, along with a changing market dynamic, is what killed Lear. The original Lear 23 was somewhat designed off a Swiss fighter at the time. Affordability and high performance is what sold it.
There was nothing like it when it hit the market. There were big gas hogs like the North American Saberliner, and the 4 engine Lockheed Jetstar, (Goldfinger's airplane). But the Lear put small, fast jet aircraft into peoples lives in ways, (cost and size), that the others could not.
Bill Lear was a smart salesman, as well as a brilliant aircraft designer. He, along with Clay Lacy sold A LOT of the original Lear 23's and 24's to high profile entertainers at the time. Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, and even Arnold Palmer all bought one.
I think the first one's came with a price tag in the $350,000 to $400,000 range.... A lot of money in 1964. Considering back then you could buy a new Cessna 310 for right around $50K, and play Sky King.
Right around the same time there was a company operating out of Sarasota, Florida called Cavalier Aircraft. They were doing ground up restorations on surplus P-51 Mustangs. (Which were everywhere for cheap back then). You could buy one for right around $75,000, all ready to go. Now a fixer upper will cost you a million + or more.
Then as time marched on, other companies joined the business jet market, size and super luxury came more into play. Along with long range, (which the Lear never really had).
In response to keeping performance alive, Lear even went as far as to hire Neil Armstrong to fly the, "Lear 28 Longhorn Project". He proceeded to set a bunch of time to climb records with it up to 51,000 ft.
But leather, in flight champaign, size, and luxury took over the private jet market. As opposed to small, high performance business aircraft. And sadly the Lear was left behind.
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Clay Lacy could fly the hell out of a Lear 24, and did many aerobatic air show performances with one. He also owned one of the first one's ever produced. (Serial # 12). It looks like the day it rolled off the assembly line, with it's original paint scheme. He set many records with this aircraft.