Learjet: A History of Business Aviation Excellence

The Learjet Story: From Vision to Legacy

Few names in aviation carry the weight of Learjet. For nearly six decades, the Learjet brand defined what a business jet could be — fast, sleek, and uncompromisingly capable. Born from the ambition of one man and carried forward through four corporate eras, the Learjet story is one of engineering brilliance, commercial success, and enduring legacy.

Brand Timeline

Lear Jet Corporation — 1962–1969

The story begins with William P. Lear Sr., an inventor and entrepreneur whose restless genius had already produced the car radio and the 8-track tape. In 1962, Lear founded the Lear Jet Corporation in Wichita, Kansas, with a singular ambition: to build a fast, affordable business jet for the American executive market. Drawing inspiration from the Swiss FFA P-16 fighter jet design, Lear's team developed the Learjet 23, which made its first flight on 7 October 1963. It was certified by the FAA in 1964 and entered service almost immediately, becoming the world's first mass-produced business jet. The aircraft's performance — capable of cruising at over 500 mph at 45,000 feet — was nothing short of revolutionary. By the late 1960s, the Lear Jet name had become synonymous with speed, prestige, and the jet-set lifestyle.

Gates Learjet Corporation — 1969–1988

In 1969, William Lear sold his company to the Gates Rubber Company, and the brand became Gates Learjet Corporation. Under Gates' stewardship, the product line expanded significantly. The 1970s and 1980s saw the introduction of the stretched Learjet 25, the long-range Learjet 35 and 36, and the wide-cabin Learjet 55 — the first Learjet to offer stand-up headroom. This era cemented Learjet's position as the dominant force in the light and medium business jet market, with hundreds of aircraft delivered to corporate, charter, and government operators worldwide.

Learjet Inc. — 1988–1990

In 1988, Gates divested its aviation holdings and the company was rebranded simply as Learjet Inc. This transitional period was brief but significant — it marked the end of the Gates era and set the stage for a new chapter of ownership. During this time, development continued on next-generation platforms, including early work on what would become the Learjet 60.

Bombardier Learjet — 1990–2021

In 1990, Canadian aerospace giant Bombardier Inc. acquired Learjet, integrating it into a growing portfolio that included de Havilland Canada and Canadair. Under Bombardier, the Learjet brand entered its most prolific engineering era. The Learjet 45 introduced a new wide-body fuselage and Honeywell TFE731 engines; the Learjet 60 offered transcontinental range; and the ambitious Learjet 85 — a composite-construction aircraft — reached prototype stage before the programme was suspended. In January 2021, Bombardier announced the end of Learjet production, closing a chapter that had spanned nearly 60 years and over 3,000 aircraft delivered.

Learjet Aircraft — Model Reference

The following table summarises every production Learjet model, from the pioneering Model 23 to the final Learjet 85 prototype.

Engineering Legacy

What made Learjet aircraft so enduring was not simply their performance, but the engineering philosophy behind them. From the outset, Learjet designs prioritised high-altitude cruise efficiency, with most models certified to operate at FL450 or above — well above commercial airline traffic. The use of winglets (pioneered on the Learjet 28 and 29 Longhorn series) became an industry standard adopted across commercial aviation. The Learjet 35 and 36 series, powered by Garrett TFE731 turbofans, became the backbone of charter and air ambulance fleets worldwide, with over 675 examples built — the most successful Learjet model by production volume.

The Learjet 45, introduced in 1995, represented a generational leap: a wider cabin, advanced avionics, and a range capable of coast-to-coast US operations. It became one of the best-selling midsize jets of its era. The Learjet 60, with its Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305A engines, offered true transcontinental capability and remained in production for over two decades.

The End of an Era

On 31 January 2021, Bombardier announced the permanent closure of the Learjet programme, citing market pressures and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The final aircraft — a Learjet 75 Liberty — was delivered to a private customer, marking the end of nearly 60 years of continuous production. At the time of closure, more than 3,000 Learjet aircraft had been delivered to operators in over 50 countries.

The Learjet name lives on in the thousands of aircraft still flying today, maintained by a global network of service centres, type clubs, and passionate operators. For historians, restorers, and aviation professionals, the technical documentation produced across six decades of Learjet production remains an essential reference — and Online Aviation Library is proud to be a custodian of that archive.

Learjet Manuals in Our Collection

Online Aviation Library holds a growing collection of original Learjet service manuals, maintenance handbooks, illustrated parts catalogues, and flight operations documentation spanning the full production history from the Model 23 through the Learjet 75. Each collection is curated, digitised, and provided as an instant PDF download with free lifetime updates as new documents are acquired.

Browse our Learjet documentation collections to find the manuals relevant to your aircraft type.