Learjet 23

Last updated

Learjet 23
Air Zoo Learjet II.JPG
Role Business jet
Manufacturer Learjet
Designer William Powell Lear, based on a design by Dr.eng. Hans-Luzius Studer
First flight7 October 1963
Introduction13 October 1964
StatusActive
Produced1964–1966 [1]
Number built101 [1]

The Learjet 23 (originally Lear Jet 23) is an American six-to-eight-seat (two crew and four to six passengers) twinjet, high-speed business jet manufactured by Learjet. Introduced in 1964, it was Learjet's first model and created a new market for fast and efficient small business aircraft. Production ended in 1966 after 101 aircraft had been delivered.

Contents

Development

Recognizing the potential of the Swiss-designed single-engine ground-attack FFA P-16 fighter jet, William (Bill) Powell Lear, Sr. established Swiss American Aviation Corporation (SAAC) to produce a two-engined passenger version: the SAAC-23 Execujet. The company moved to Wichita, Kansas and was renamed Lear Jet Corporation. Production began on the first Model 23 Lear Jet on 7 February 1962. The first flight took place on 7 October 1963 with test pilots Hank Beaird and Bob Hagen. [2] On 4 June 1964, the prototype crashed soon after takeoff, when the pilot inadvertently deployed the wing spoilers while demonstrating an engine failure on takeoff. [3] Eventually determined to be pilot error, this mishap did not deter the Federal Aviation Agency (later the Federal Aviation Administration) from awarding the Lear Jet 23 its type certificate on 31 July 1964. On 13 October 1964, the first production aircraft was delivered.

Production ended in 1966 after one hundred and one aircraft had been delivered. In 1998, thirty nine Model 23s were estimated to remain in use. Twenty seven are known to have been lost or damaged beyond repair through accidents, the most recent being in 2008. [4]

Noise compliance

In 2013, the FAA modified 14 CFR part 91 rules to prohibit the operation of jets weighing 75,000 pounds or less that are not stage 3 noise compliant after 31 December 2015. The Learjet 23 is listed explicitly in Federal Register 78 FR 39576. Any Learjet 23s that have not been modified by installing Stage 3 noise compliant engines or have not had "hushkits" installed for non-compliant engines will not be permitted to fly in the contiguous 48 states after 31 December 2015. 14 CFR § 91.883 Special flight authorizations for jet airplanes weighing 75,000 pounds or less – lists special flight authorizations that may be granted for operation after 31 December 2015.

Aircraft on display

NASA Learjet 23 chase aircraft NASA 701 Learjet 23 chase aircraft.jpg
NASA Learjet 23 chase aircraft

Operators

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66 [16]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

Related Research Articles

The Lockheed Model 10 Electra is an American twin-engined, all-metal monoplane airliner developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, which was produced primarily in the 1930s to compete with the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2. The type gained considerable fame as one was flown by Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan on their ill-fated around-the-world expedition in 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing-Stearman Model 75</span> American biplane military training aircraft in use 1934 through WWII

The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is an American biplane formerly used as a military trainer aircraft, of which at least 10,626 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. Widely known as the Stearman, Boeing Stearman, or Kaydet, it served as a primary trainer for the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy, and with the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Kaydet throughout World War II. After the conflict was over, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civilian market. In the immediate postwar years, they became popular as crop dusters and sports planes, and for aerobatic and wing walking use in air shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helio Courier</span> Type of aircraft

The Helio Courier is a cantilever high-wing light STOL utility aircraft designed in 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed JetStar</span> Executive transport jet by Lockheed

The Lockheed JetStar is a business jet produced from the early 1960s to the 1970s. The JetStar was the first dedicated business jet to enter service, as well as the only such airplane built by Lockheed. It was also one of the largest aircraft in the class for many years, seating ten plus two crew. It is distinguishable from other small jets by its four engines, mounted on the rear of the fuselage, and the "slipper"-style fuel tanks fixed to the wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairchild C-82 Packet</span> American twin engine military transport aircraft built 1944-48

The C-82 Packet is a twin-engine, twin-boom cargo aircraft designed and built by Fairchild Aircraft. It was used briefly by the United States Army Air Forces and the successor United States Air Force following World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piaggio PD.808</span> Type of aircraft

The Piaggio PD.808 was an Italian business jet built by Piaggio. It was designed as a joint venture between Piaggio and Douglas Aircraft Company of Long Beach, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grumman OV-1 Mohawk</span> Battlefield reconnaissance and forward air control aircraft

The Grumman OV-1 Mohawk is an American armed military observation and attack aircraft that was designed for battlefield surveillance and light strike capabilities. It has a twin turboprop configuration, and carries two crew members in side-by-side seating. The Mohawk was intended to operate from short, unimproved runways in support of United States Army maneuver forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piasecki H-21</span> American military transport helicopter family

The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee is an American helicopter, the fourth of a line of tandem rotor helicopters designed and built by Piasecki Helicopter. Commonly called "the flying banana", it was a multi-mission helicopter, capable of being fitted with wheels, skis or floats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiller YH-32 Hornet</span> American ultralight helicopter

The Hiller YH-32 Hornet was an American ultralight helicopter built by Hiller Aircraft in the early 1950s. It was a small and unique design because it was powered by two Hiller 8RJ2B ramjet engines mounted on the rotor blade tips which weigh 13 lb (5.9 kg) each and deliver an equivalent of 45 hp (34 kW) for a total of 90 hp (67 kW). Versions of the HJ-1 Hornet were built for the United States Army and the United States Navy in the early 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard</span> 1958 transport helicopter family by Sikorsky

The Sikorsky HH-52 Seaguard was an early amphibious helicopter designed and produced by American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. It was the first of the company's amphibious rotorcraft to fly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan PT-22 Recruit</span> US military trainer aircraft

The Ryan PT-22 Recruit, the main military version of the Ryan ST, is a military trainer aircraft that was used by the United States Army Air Corps during WWII for primary pilot training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol Bolingbroke</span> Maritime patrol aircraft and trainer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II

The Bristol Fairchild Bolingbroke is a maritime patrol aircraft and trainer used by the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Produced by Fairchild-Canada, it was a license-built version of the Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bomber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed YO-3 Quiet Star</span> Type of aircraft

The Lockheed YO-3 Quiet Star is an American single-engined, propeller-driven aircraft that was developed for battlefield observation during the Vietnam War. Designed to be as quiet as possible, it was intended to observe troop movements in near-silence during the hours of darkness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin 4-0-4</span> Twin-piston-engine US piston airliner, 1950

The Martin 4-0-4 was an American pressurized passenger airliner built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. In addition to airline use initially in the United States, it was used by the United States Coast Guard and United States Navy as the RM-1G.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learjet 45</span> Type of aircraft

The Learjet 45 (LJ45) is a mid-size business jet aircraft produced by the Learjet Division of Bombardier Aerospace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learjet 24</span> Type of aircraft

The Learjet 24 is an American six-to-eight-seat twin-engine, high-speed business jet, which was manufactured by Learjet as the successor to the Learjet 23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learjet 28</span> Type of aircraft

The Learjet 28 is an American eight-to-ten-seat, twin-engine, high-speed business jet, intended to be the successor to the Learjet 25. The Learjet 29 is identical except for the addition of a long-range fuel tank, resulting in the reduction of the capacity to six. Both were manufactured by Learjet and were marketed under the Longhorn name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 47J Ranger</span> Type of aircraft

The Bell 47J Ranger is an American single-engine single-rotor light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was an executive variant of the highly successful Bell 47 and was the first helicopter to carry a United States president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell H-13 Sioux</span> Single-engine single-rotor light military helicopter

The Bell H-13 Sioux is an American single-engine light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter and manufactured by Westland Aircraft under license for the British military as the Sioux AH.1 and HT.2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas R4D-8</span> Military transport aircraft

The Douglas R4D-8 is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3S airliner. It was used by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and Vietnam War.

References

  1. 1 2 Murdo Morrison (12 October 2018). "NBAA: Business jet designs that changed the industry". FlightGlobal.
  2. "Lear Celebrates 30". Flying . Vol. 120, no. 12. December 1993. p. 38. ISSN   0015-4806.
  3. "ASN Aircraft Accident Learjet 23". Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  4. Aviation Safety Network: Learjet 23
  5. "Lear Jet 23". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Learjet 23/24 production list". rzjets. rzjets.net. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  7. "Learjet Model 23". Kansas Aviation Museum. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  8. "Bates City". Bates City. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  9. Mathews, Kay (4 February 2011). "Since 1986 aviation history flies high at the Arkansas Air Museum". Digital Journal. digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  10. "Aircraft N23BY Data". Airport-Data.com. Airport-Data.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  11. "Learjet 23". The Museum of Flight. The Museum Of Flight. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  12. "Airframe Dossier – Swiss American Aviation CorporationLearjet, c/n 23-068, c/r N73CE". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  13. "Airframe Dossier – Swiss American Aviation Corporation 23 Lear Jet, c/n 23-083, c/r N824LJ". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  14. "Learjet 23". Pima Air and Space Museum. Pima Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  15. "LearJet 23". Valiant Air Command. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
    • Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–1966. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965. pp. 252–253.