Learjet 23

Learjet 23
NASA Learjet 23
Role	Business jet
Manufacturer	Learjet
Designer	William Powell Lear, based on a design by Dr.eng. Hans-Luzius Studer
First flight	7 October 1963
Introduction	October 13, 1964
Status	Active
Primary users	Private Military
Produced	1962-1966
Number built	104

The Learjet 23 is an American built six-to-eight-seat (two crew and four to six passengers) twin-engine, high-speed business jet manufactured by Learjet. Introduced in 1964, it was Learjet's first model and created a completely new market for fast and efficient business aircraft. 104 units were manufactured before production ceased just two years later in 1966.

History

William (Bill) Powell Lear, Sr. recognized the FFA P-16's potential and established Swiss American Aviation Corporation (SAAC) to produce a passenger version as the SAAC-23 Execujet. The company moved to Wichita, Kansas and was renamed as the Lear Jet Corporation, production was started on the first Model 23 Learjet on February 7, 1962. The first flight of the Learjet 23 took place on 7 October 1963 with test pilots Hank Beaird and Bob Hagen. Although the prototype crashed in June 1964 the type Learjet 23 was awarded a type certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration on 31 July 1964. On October 13, 1964, the first production aircraft was delivered.

With this jet a completely new market for fast and efficient business aircraft was opened. The Model 23 was the basis for a whole set of similar aircraft which remain in production.

Production of the Learjet 23 stopped in 1966 after a total of 104 had been built. In 1998 there were still 39 Model 23s in use. A total of 27 have been lost or damaged beyond repair through accidents during the aircraft's lengthy career, the most recent in 2008.

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 December 31, 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 December 31, 2015, and the rule points out that appropriate hushkits are not currently available for the Learjet 23. 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 December 31, 2015.

Aircraft on display

Five Model 23s were preserved in museums in the United States by 2007, including the second example to be completed.

Operators

United States

• NASA
• Executive Jet Aviation

Specifications

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

General characteristics

• Crew: Two pilots
• Capacity: 6 passengers
• Length: 43 ft 3 in (13.18 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 7 in (10.84 m)
• Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
• Wing area: 231.1 ft² (21.48 m²)
• Empty weight: 6,150 lb (2,790 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 12,499 lb (5,670 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CJ610-4 turbojets, 2,850 lbf (12.71 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 561 mph (488 knots, 903 km/h, Mach 0.82) at 24,000 ft (7,300 m)
• Cruise speed: 518 mph (450 knots, 834 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,200 m)
• Stall speed: 104 mph (90 knots, 168 km/h) (wheels and flaps down)
• Range: 1,830 mi (1,591 nmi, 2,945 km) (max fuel at 485 mph (780 km/h) and 40,000 ft (12,200 m)
• Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,715 m)
• Rate of climb: 6,900 ft/min (35 m/s)

See also

Related lists

• List of aircraft

References

• Ogden, Bob, "Aviation Museums and Collections of North America", 2007, Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd, ISBN 0-85130-385-4.
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–1966. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.
• Specs of the Learjet Model 23
• Learjet timeline from Wings of Kansas

External links

• A history of the Learjet 23-29 series on Airliners.net