Learjet 24 (24-123, N3731)
Credit: Paul Bowen
This book offers an unique, comprehensive retrospective on the Learjet aircraft, from the establishment by Bill Lear in the sixties, to its slow demise in 2021. It accompanies readers on a unique journey through the configuration changes, and advanced technological applications that have transformed business jets and their market in the last sixty years. Important insights are given into numerous patents and innovations that have shaped the development of new technologies and aerodynamic improvements such as the winglet. Furthermore, this book presents many special missions carried out by the Learjet family, such as VIP, business and ambulance flights, research and military projects, and the use of Learjet in aerobatics, as well as aerial photography and cinematography. With a great number of original photographs and drawings, interesting events, stories and anecdotes, this book provides today’s aeronautical and systems engineers and test pilots with an invaluable source of information and inspiration. Yet, it also offers a compelling reading to students, professionals and scientists in the aerospace field as well as to curious readers with a general interest in aeronautics. Learjet 31A (31-131, N31LR)
Credit: Paul Bowen
Author(s): Peter G. Hamel, Gary D. Park
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 373
City: Cham
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Contents
About the Authors
Abbreviations and Acronyms
1 Introduction
1.1 Innovations for Aviation
1.2 Learjet and the Civil Jet Era Evolution
References
2 Beginnings
2.1 The Swiss Jet Age Awakening
2.2 The Rise and Fall of the P-16
2.3 P-16 Turns into SAAC-23
2.4 Pairing of Lear with Studer
2.5 Insurmountable Cultural Differences
2.6 A Tribute to Hanz-Luzius Studer
References
3 Swiss American Aviation Corporation (1962–1963)
3.1 Milestones
3.2 SAAC Transfer to Wichita
References
4 Lear Jet Corporation (1963–1966)
4.1 The Classical Lear Jet Model 23
4.1.1 Change to T-Tail
4.1.2 Structural Features
4.2 Lear Jet First Flight and Certification
4.3 Lear Jet 23 and the Jetliner
4.4 Early Learjet Aviation Records
4.5 Accidents Call for Changes
4.6 Wing Improvements and Other Modifications
4.7 Lear Jet Model Series 24 and 25
4.8 Lear Jet 23 Noise Compliance
References
5 Lear Jet Industries Incorporated (1966–1969)
5.1 Lear Jet Industries Inc. (1966–1969)
Reference
6 Gates Learjet Corporation (1969–1987)
6.1 Learjet Model 25 and 35/36 Series
6.2 Innovations Lead to Advanced Learjet Model Series
6.3 Important Learjet Patents
6.4 Gates Learjet Aviation Records
6.5 Learjet Model 55
6.6 Learjet Model 31
6.7 Robertson Learjet 25TF
6.8 Spirit Wing Aviation Learjet 25D
6.9 Raisbeck Engineering Inc.
6.10 Dee Howard Innovations
6.10.1 Thrust Reversers (TR)
6.10.2 Wing Modifications to Learjet 20 Series (See also Appendix C.1)
6.10.3 Dee Howard XR Wing Modification XR (See also Appendix C.1)
6.11 Avcon Hushkits
6.12 Aeronca Thrust Reversers
6.13 Learjet Model Series 25/35 Thrust Reverser Accidents
6.13.1 Learjet Model 25C (S/N 25-073, N22CP)
6.13.2 Learjet Model 35A (S/N 35-279, N19LH)
6.13.3 Learjet Model 35A (S/N 35-209, N22MS)
6.14 The Gates Learjet Corporation Downfall
References
7 Learjet Corporation (1988–1990)
7.1 Learjet 31
7.2 Learjet 55C
7.3 Integrated Resources Bankruptcy
References
8 Bombardier Learjet (1990–2022)
8.1 Company Takeover
8.2 Learjet Model 31A
8.3 Learjet Model 60
8.4 Learjet Model 45
8.5 NASA Support for Learjet Model 45
8.6 Aerodynamic Refinements
8.7 Learjet 40XR and 45XR
8.8 Learjet 70 and 75
8.9 Learjet 75LXi™
8.10 Learjet 85
8.11 Learjet Model 60 Thrust Reverser
8.11.1 Technical Description
8.11.2 Learjet Model 60–035 Thrust Reverser Accident
8.11.3 Learjet Model 60–314 Thrust Reverser Accident
8.11.4 Learjet Model 60 Thrust Reverser Accident Prevention
References
9 Special Mission Learjets
9.1 General
9.2 Calspan Variable Stability Learjets
9.3 NASA Learjet Flight Test Missions
9.3.1 The Learjet Flight Test and Research Fleet
9.3.2 Aerodynamic and Handling Qualities Research
9.3.3 Wake Vortex Research
9.3.4 First Winglet Design
9.3.5 Airborne Remote Sensing
9.3.6 Propeller, Jet and Unducted Fan Noise Research
9.3.7 Mobile Satellite Communications
9.4 USAF C-21A Learjet Transport & Training Missions
9.5 Learjet International Tactical Training Missions
9.5.1 GFD Tactical Training Learjets
9.5.2 Flight International Tactical Training Learjets
9.5.3 Phoenix Air Airborne Learjet Missions
9.5.4 Australian Defence Force Learjets
9.5.5 Japan Self Defense Force U-36A Learjet
9.5.6 Finnish Air Force Learjet UC-35A
9.5.7 Saab Air Defence Training Learjet 35A
9.5.8 AEC SkyLine
References
10 Learjet Family Overview (1963–2022)
10.1 Learjet Variants Overview
10.1.1 General
10.1.2 Learjet Model Series Evolution
10.1.3 Learjet Timeline
References
11 Learjet Aerobatics and Demonstrations
11.1 Learjet Aerobatics and Demonstrations
11.1.1 Clay Lacy Aviation Learjets
11.1.2 Bobby Younkin Learjet Aerobatics
11.1.3 Flyers Team Learjet Aerobatics
References
12 Aerial Photography and Cinematography
12.1 Aerial Photography and Cinematography
12.1.1 Clay Lacy Astrovision Learjet
12.1.2 Wolfe Air Aviation Learjet
12.1.3 Paul Bowen Learjet Aerial Photography
References
13 International Government Liason Learjets
14 Business Jet Market Development
14.1 Learjet Certifications Resume
14.2 Learjet Deliveries
14.3 The Single-Pilot Issue
14.4 The Slow Demise
14.5 A Final Gathering
References
15 Learjet Events
15.1 Swiss Learjets of USAF Generals
15.1.1 Executive Jet Aviation
15.1.2 Jet Aviation
15.2 Fuel Imbalance
15.2.1 A Crossfeed Refueling Problem
15.2.2 Accidents Due to Fuel Imbalance
15.2.3 Fuel Imbalance Due to Fuel Pump Failures
15.3 Drug Trafficking
15.3.1 A Learjet with 300 kg Cocaine
15.3.2 The Learjet of a Convicted Narco
15.3.3 A Learjet with Almost $1M in Weed
15.3.4 Escobar’s Cash Smuggling Learjet
15.3.5 Learjet Confiscated by the Bolivians
15.4 A Cheating Learjet Pilot
15.5 A Learjet in the Wilderness
15.6 Learjet Paintbrush Art
15.7 Howard Hughes’ Last Flight
15.8 The Way He Flew His Learjet
15.9 Fiat Heir Lapo Elkann’s special Learjet
15.9.1 The Byrds Learjet Song
15.9.2 Miss Ashley II
15.9.3 A Learjet Converted
References
16 Stories that Should Be Told by Learjet Family Members
16.1 Learjet Barrel Roll and High-Speed Incidents
16.1.1 Learjet Barrel Roll Incidents
16.1.2 Learjet High-Speed Incidents
16.2 Abla’s Shakey Parlor
16.3 Chemical-Milled Wing Static Failure
16.4 Seconds from Disaster
16.5 A Few Pages for the Manual
16.6 Cowboy Pilots Flying Freight with Go-Fast Switches
16.7 Flutter and Buzzing
16.7.1 Don Grommesh’s Encounter with Flutter
16.7.2 Mike Abla’s Encounter with Aileron Buzz
16.8 More Stan Blankenship Memories
16.8.1 Alexander Butterfield
16.8.2 Three Cadillacs in the Parking Lot
16.8.3 Bud Dyas—Part 1
16.8.4 Chuck Dyas
16.8.5 Bud Dyas—Part 2
16.8.6 36-002…It Was a Lemon
16.8.7 Morning Revelation
16.8.8 One of My Favorite Learjet Pictures
16.8.9 Lear Jet Loads Group
16.8.10 The Standards Manual
16.8.11 The Kysor Report
16.8.12 Carson Roberts Ad Agency
16.8.13 Probably My Closest Call
16.8.14 More Improvised Approaches
16.8.15 PBS Program
16.8.16 Vern Harms
16.8.17 One More Remembrance of Vern Harms
16.8.18 Dutch Deutschendorf
16.8.19 Susan Oliver
16.8.20 When Learjet Was Called Hollywood East
16.8.21 Finland was not Part of Scandinavia
16.8.22 Ramblings
16.8.23 Changing the Landscape
16.8.24 I Took My Five Year Old Son on an Airplane Ride
16.8.25 An Odd Bugger
16.8.26 A Couple of Totally Overlooked Seismic Changes
16.8.27 Austin Goodwin Flew with a Cat on His Lap
16.8.28 Just Reverse the Hook
16.8.29 More Reckless Behavior
16.9 Checking the Merits of an Invention
16.10 The Chicken Test and Taste
References
17 Piaggio-Douglas PD.808 A Striking Resemblance
17.1 The Largely Unknown PD.808 Vespa Jet
17.2 An US-Italian Initiative
References
18 Conclusions
18.1 General
18.2 Developing the Learjet
18.3 Developing the LearFan and LearStar600
18.4 Joining the National Aviation and Inventors Hall of Fame
Epilogue
Appendix A Chief Engineering Test Pilot Remembers 1st Flight
A.1 Chief Engineering Test Pilot Remembers First Flight
Appendix B Learjet Variant Designations
B.1 Learjet Variant Designations [1]
Appendix C Learjet Wings and Wing Modifications (1963–1996)
C.1 Learjet Wings and Wing Modifications (1963–1996)
