Learjet
Updated: 12/11/2025, 10:51:27 AM Wikipedia source
Learjet was a manufacturer of business jets 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. The Learjet line was once sufficiently popular that the Learjet name became synonymous and interchangeable with the terms business jet or private jet in the popular vernacular. 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.
Infobox
Founded
1962; 63 years ago (1962)
Founder
Bill Lear
Defunct
2021; 4 years ago (2021)
Fate
Acquired by Bombardier Aerospace in 1990, production ceased in 2021
Headquarters
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Parent
Bombardier Aviation (1990–2021)
Subsidiaries
Brantly Helicopter Corporation (1966–1969)
Tables
· Aircraft
Learjet 23
Learjet 23
Model name
Learjet 23
First flight
1963
Number built
101
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 24
Learjet 24
Model name
Learjet 24
First flight
1966
Number built
259
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 25
Learjet 25
Model name
Learjet 25
First flight
1966
Number built
369
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 28
Learjet 28
Model name
Learjet 28
First flight
1977
Number built
5
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 29
Learjet 29
Model name
Learjet 29
First flight
1977
Number built
4
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 31
Learjet 31
Model name
Learjet 31
First flight
1987
Number built
246
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 35
Learjet 35
Model name
Learjet 35
First flight
1973
Number built
675+
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 36
Learjet 36
Model name
Learjet 36
Number built
64
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 40
Learjet 40
Model name
Learjet 40
First flight
2002
Number built
133
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 45
Learjet 45
Model name
Learjet 45
First flight
1995
Number built
642
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 55
Learjet 55
Model name
Learjet 55
First flight
1979
Number built
147
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 60
Learjet 60
Model name
Learjet 60
First flight
1990
Number built
430
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 70
Learjet 70
Model name
Learjet 70
Number built
13
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 75
Learjet 75
Model name
Learjet 75
Number built
156
Type
Twin engine business jet
Learjet 85
Learjet 85
Model name
Learjet 85
First flight
2014
Number built
2
Type
Twin engine business jet
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
| Learjet 23 | 1963 | 101 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 24 | 1966 | 259 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 25 | 1966 | 369 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 28 | 1977 | 5 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 29 | 1977 | 4 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 31 | 1987 | 246 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 35 | 1973 | 675+ | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 36 | 64 | Twin engine business jet | |
| Learjet 40 | 2002 | 133 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 45 | 1995 | 642 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 55 | 1979 | 147 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 60 | 1990 | 430 | Twin engine business jet |
| Learjet 70 | 13 | Twin engine business jet | |
| Learjet 75 | 156 | Twin engine business jet | |
| Learjet 85 | 2014 | 2 | Twin engine business jet |
References
- Bombardier Inc., Encyclopædia Britannicahttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/850225/Bombardier-Inc
- "Bombardier Marks Major Milestone with Delivery of 3,000th Learjet Aircraft Manufactured"http://businessaircraft.bombardier.com/en/news-events/bombardier-marks-major-milestone-delivery-3000th-learjet-aircraft-manufactured
- "Goodbye to the original celebrity private jet"https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56317270
- Montrealhttps://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/bombardier-announces-the-elimination-of-1600-positions-and-end-of-the-learjet/
- Condon, Peter. Flying the Classic Learjet. Dorval: Condon. 2007.
- Georges Bridel, Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, Luzern 1975, ISBN 3 85954 902 2.
- Frickler, John. "Switzerland's P-16: Father of the Learjet." Air International, March 1991, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 139–146.
- Air Progress
- "Lewis Hamilton races Lear jet"https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7505652.stm
- Bombardierhttps://bombardier.com/en/media/news
- Bombardierhttps://web.archive.org/web/20220817144002/https://bombardier.com/en/media/nouvelle/bombardier-reports-full-year-2020-financial-results-provides-2021-guidance-and
- "Bombardier will end Learjet production and cut 250 jobs in Wichita, plans to focus on Challenger and Global aircraft"https://www.ksn.com/news/local/bombardier-will-end-learjet-production-plans-to-focus-challenger-and-global-aircraft/
- Flightglobalhttps://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/learjet-production-goes-silent-after-six-decades/148088.article
- Gross, Peggy. February 21, 2013. Learjet 50 Years, Bombardier Aerospace, Wichita, Kansas.
- Mekhail, Natasha. "Learjet Grows Wichita Site and Workforce". Experience [Canada]. January 10th, 2013: 81. Spafax Inc. P
- Airlife's General Aviation: A Guide to Postwar General Aviation Manufacturers and Their Aircrafthttp://www.archive.org/details/airlifesgenerala0000simp_l8l9
- Spectra Jethttps://web.archive.org/web/20060311031315/http://www.spectrajet.homestead.com/learjet30info.html