LearJet 23 | International Aviation HQ

26Mar

By Salomón MarcoNo Comments

History

How Learjet Failed…

Ask anyone to name a private jet, and they will respond with the same company: Learjet. Yet despite having created the modern business jet, the company's recent ceasing of aircraft production clearly signals how Learjet as a company, has failed... In its nearly 60 year history, the company delivered a total of 3058 aircraft to customers on every inhabited continent, becoming an icon in the process. But alas, the company is little more than a shell of its once-great self. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); History Before we can discuss how and why Learjet has failed, we must first look at the background of the company and how it has evolved over the years. Founding In 1962, self-taught American engineer Bill Lear decided enough was enough. ...

11Dec

By Alya KulikovaNo Comments

Executive

Learjet 23: The First Business Jet

The brain child of genius inventor and engineer Bill Lear, the Learjet 23 was the first purpose-built business jet and singlehandedly birthed the modern business aviation industry as we know it! Despite its two year production run (1964-1966), 101 Learjet 23s were built and it served as the basis for the next 30 years of Learjet aircraft, including the now-famous Learjet 24, Learjet 31 and Learjet 35... (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Background When WWII ended, the world scrambled to develop a domestic fighter jet. You see, during the war, both the British and Germans had succeeded in not only building their own fighter jets, but also using them in combat... often with deadly results. Though this international scramble was spearheaded by ...

Learjet 24: The Most Important Learjet Ever?

27Nov

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

Executive

Learjet 24: The Most Important Learjet Ever?

Background In the early 1950's, the Swiss government initiated a program to develop their own fighter jets, in an apparent attempt to rival the fighter jet programs of neighboring countries. With generous terms and lengthy contracts, Swiss aircraft manufacturers tripped over one another to develop a fighter jet the Swiss Air Force could use. Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein, or FFA for short, was no different. Indeed, they spent thousands of man hours on their P-16 design in the hopes of getting that contract. But despite the Swiss Air Force's interest and a working prototype undergoing flight testing, the P-16 was cancelled due to budget cuts. Though devastating for FFA, the project caught the attention of an American engineer called Bill Lear. Even though e...

How Bill Lear Created The Modern Business Jet

16Oct

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

History

How Bill Lear Created The Modern Business Jet

Remembered for being the man behind the famed Learjet, Bill Lear did much more than just build the first modern business jet: he also built radios, cassette players, battery eliminators and much more! A high school dropout and former Navy seaman who came from a broken home, Bill had a reputation for being difficult to work with and hard on his employees, constantly pushing them to push beyond the boundaries of modern technology, almost as if he had something to prove. But beneath his rough exterior was a great sense of humor, which could make even his most serious employees cry with laughter. His sense of humor even extended to the names of his children, such as his third daughter who was called Crystal Shanda Lear! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ...

6May

By Christopher HarrowNo Comments

History

What Was The First Business Jet?

There are several contenders for the title of first business jet. Several companies claim to have made the first aircraft solely for corporate use. But which is truly the first? Here's who! The first business jet contenders began to be produced during the 1960's. Whilst many people were enjoying the relative comfortableness of the "Golden Age of Aviation", businessmen were looking for something different... The resulting aircraft and their descendants have since gone on to become part of pop culture! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); McDonnell 119 The 119 is one of the most unique McDonnell aircraft ever built. Not only was it one of the first business jets to ever be marketed, ever. But it was the first McDonnell aircraft to be marketed to civ...