Bombardier celebrates 3,000th Learjet delivery
The Learjet is the most enduring name in private jet history and this week saw its maker Bombardier celebrate the iconic aircraft family’s 3,000th delivery.
The first ever purpose built private jet in the 1960s, the Learjet then evolved into a range of small and medium business jets.
The original Learjet 23, created by serial entrepreneur Bill Lear, took off from a runway in Wichita, Kansas on October 7th 1963. Within a few years it would become synonymous with private jets.
The Learjet set the standard for private jets for many years to follow. There was nothing, outside of the military, that could compete on performance. Fast and effective, it offered a level of convenience and accessibility that set the bar high in these early days of private aviation.
The 3,000th delivery was also a milestone for Bombardier’s current production Learjet, the 8-seat Learjet 75 – its 100th delivery of this variant.
Previous models the Learjet 40XR, 45XR and 60XR are no longer manufactured, but there are many still available and active in the private jet charter market.
The 8-seater Learjet 75 has an eight-seat double-club configuration and a fully flat floor. Its modern interior was designed for style and comfort, with individual touchscreens, LED lighting, and generous luggage space.
Bombardier introduced the re-engineered Learjet 70 and 75 in 2014, to target rival Cessna’s Citation XL/XLS/XLS+. Textron-owned Cessna overtook Learjet to become dominant in the small and medium jet markets from the 1980s onwards, with their highly-successful Citation jet families, and have now delivered over 7,000 aircraft.
But Learjets remain popular with PrivateFly’s clients in both Europe and the USA.
The Learjet 75’s powerful engines and winglet design enable it to reach a top speed of Mach 0.81, and fly up to 2,000 nm non-stop. It is popular with our clients for short flights for small groups and is capable of flying longer cross-continental routes, such as London to Moscow.
For advice and private charter quotes on a Learjet, Citation jet, or any other private aircraft, contact our expert Flight Team (24 hours) on +44 (0)20 7100 6960.