A Brief Record of Learjet’s Progression Skyward
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Late 1950s |
U.S. entrepreneur and inventor, William P. Lear, Sr., forms Swiss American Aviation Corporation (SAAC) with intention of designing and manufacturing SAAC-23 corporate jet aircraft. |
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1962 |
Lear moves S.A.A.C. from Switzerland to Wichita, Kansas. On February 7, assembly of Learjet #1 begins. On March 9, S.A.A.C. occupies new Wichita plant. |
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1962 |
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Lear Jet Corporation |
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1963 |
On April 26, S.A.A.C. renamed Lear Jet Corporation. On October 7, first flight of first Learjet, Model 23 |
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1964 |
On October 13, first production Model 23 delivered. On November 30, Lear Jet Corporation becomes publicly owned. |
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1966 |
On February 24, first flight of Model 24. On March 17, model 24 becomes first business aircraft certificated under On March 29, 100th Lear Jet delivery. On May 23-26, Standard Model 24 circles earth in 50 hours, 20 minutes, On August 12, first flight of Model 25. |
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Lear Jet Industries |
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1966 |
On September 19, Lear Jet Corporation renamed Lear Jet Industries Inc. On November 9, model 24A receives FAA certification. |
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1967 |
On April 10, Gates Rubber Company acquires controlling interest in Lear On July 21, Gates Aviation to market Lear Jet worldwide. On October 10, model 25 receives FAA type certification. |
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1968 |
On November 27, 200th Lear Jet delivered. On December 17, model 24B awarded FAA type certificate. |
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1969 |
On April 2, William P. Lear, Sr. resigns from Lear Jet Industries board. |
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Gates Learjet Corporation |
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1969 |
On December 2, Lear Jet Industries Inc. merges with Gates Aviation to |
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1970 |
On July 17, FAA certifies Model 24D (replaces Model 24B). On September 4, models 25B and 25C awarded FAA type certificates. |
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1971 |
On May 19, first flight of Garret AiResearch TFE-731-2 turbofan-powered On October 6, Presidential "E" award presented by U.S. |
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1972
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On January 11, Lear Jet becomes first business jet approved for gravel |
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1973
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On January 7, tenth anniversary of Learjet factory opening observed with On August 22, first flight of Model 35. |
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1974
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On July 9, models 35 and 36 receive FAA type certification. |
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1975
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On January 1, Gates Learjet leads business jet industry in total aircraft On April 8, 500th Learjet delivery sets industry milestone. |
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1976
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On May 17-19, model 36 flies around the world in 57 hours, 26 minutes. On August 2, FAA announces certification of last of six new Century III On September 14, Learjet increases production to 10 aircraft a month. |
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1977
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On April 15, FAA approves Learjet 24E/F and 25D/F operations to 15,545 On August 24, first flight of Model 28. |
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1978
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On May 14, William P. Lear, Sr. dies. |
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1979
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On January 29, models 28 and 29 awarded FAA type certificates. On April 19, first flight of Model 54/55/56 series. |
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1980
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On March 28, 1,000th aircraft delivered. On September 23, new Model 25G introduced. |
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1981
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On March 18, FAA certificates Learjet Longhorn Model 55. |
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1982
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On June 9-18, first production Model 25G enters demonstration service, breaking |
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1983
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On March 9, FAA certifies Model 55ER, first in planned series of On May 26, FAA certifies Model 55LR. On July 7, standard production Model 55 breaks six time-to-climb and On September 19, U.S. Department of Defence orders 80 Model 35As for |
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1984
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On July 11, startup of high technology Aerospace Division announced. On September 18, commercial aircraft production suspended until |
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1985
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On March 19, first of new Model 55s featuring numerous improvements, On September 10, Aerospace Division selected to build components for Space |
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1986
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On February 21, corporate headquarters relocated to Tucson, Arizona. On February 28, Production restarted at Tucson and Wichita facilities. |
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1987
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On September 9, Integrated Acquisition, Inc. acquires Gates Learjet |
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1988
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On April 4, name changed to Learjet Corporation. On August 1, FAA certifies Learjet 31. |
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1989
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On January 1, move of all aircraft production from Tucson to Wichita |
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1990
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On June 22, Bombardier announces conclusion of negotiations for purchase of On June 29, Bombardier purchase of Learjet Corp. completed. On October 10, first flight of Learjet* 60 mid-size jet. |
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1991
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On June 14, new Flight Test Center completed at Wichita. On July 25, Learjet 31A receives FAA certification. |
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1992 |
On September 14, Learjet 45 unveiled. |
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1993 |
On January 15, Learjet 60 receives FAA certification. On April 5, first Learjet 60 delivered. |
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1994 |
On May 16, Learjet 60 completes round-the-world demonstration flight. On October 3, Learjet celebrates 30th Anniversary of delivery of first |
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1995 |
On April 4, Learjet 60 is top selling mid-size jet in 1994. On October 7, first flight of Learjet 45. |
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1997 |
On September 22, Learjet 45 receives FAA certification. |
Courtesy Bombardier Aerospace/Learjet by Dan Demott.