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| Learjet 60 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Learjet 60 |
| Type | Mid-size business jet |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Aerospace |
| First flight | 1990 |
| Introduced | 1993 |
| Status | In service |
Learjet 60
The Learjet 60 is a mid-size business aircraft produced by Bombardier Aerospace and derived from designs by Bill Lear and Learjet Corporation. It serves corporate, private, and air ambulance roles and competes with models from Gulfstream Aerospace, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Dassault Aviation. The type entered service in the early 1990s and has been used by operators ranging from NetJets to government and medical organizations.
The Learjet 60 emerged from an evolution of the original Learjet lineage developed by Bill Lear and refined under Bombardier Aerospace, incorporating aerodynamic and powerplant upgrades influenced by programs at Honeywell International and General Electric. The airframe uses a low-wing, swept design influenced by earlier models from Israel Aircraft Industries and aerodynamic research at NASA Langley Research Center. The cabin layout reflects corporate interiors popularized by Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Corporate Jets, while avionics suites often integrate systems developed by Rockwell Collins and Garmin. Engines are variants from Pratt & Whitney Canada, mated to wing and empennage changes informed by flight testing at Cessna Citation program facilities and certified under regulations administered by Federal Aviation Administration.
Production and derivative models include factory and aftermarket configurations akin to modifications performed by Hawker Beechcraft service centers and specialist shops such as FlightSafety International. Upgrade programs have incorporated enhanced avionics from Honeywell International and noise/engine improvements paralleling developments at Pratt & Whitney Canada. Corporate conversions mirror VIP layouts commissioned by firms like NetJets and charter operators comparable to Flexjet and VistaJet.
Operators deployed the type in corporate transport, medical evacuation, and fractional ownership roles, joining fleets alongside aircraft from Gulfstream Aerospace, Bombardier Challenger, and Cessna Citation. The type has been based at major hubs including Teterboro Airport, Van Nuys Airport, and London Luton Airport, and has appeared in civil registries from United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and Brazil. Maintenance and overhaul have been conducted at facilities run by Bombardier Aerospace, StandardAero, and Textron Aviation subcontractors, following airworthiness directives from Federal Aviation Administration and safety advisories from European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Typical specifications include a mid-size fuselage accommodating passengers in a configuration similar to cabins offered by Gulfstream Aerospace and Dassault Falcon, two turbofan engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, and avionics options from Rockwell Collins or Honeywell International. Performance figures place cruise speeds comparable to models from Cessna Citation and ranges suitable for transcontinental missions between hubs such as JFK International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Certification and documentation conformed with standards set by Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada.
The type has been subject to investigations by agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board and Transportation Safety Board of Canada following incidents involving approach-and-landing phases at airports like Teterboro Airport and Manchester Airport (UK). Safety recommendations for the class have referenced procedures and training programs provided by FlightSafety International and regulatory changes influenced by incidents investigated jointly with Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Operators often follow maintenance advisories from Bombardier Aerospace and airworthiness notices issued by Transport Canada.
Operators include fractional ownership firms like NetJets and Flexjet, charter companies akin to VistaJet, corporate flight departments for firms headquartered near Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and medical services comparable to Air Ambulance Services in various nations. Government and state operators in countries such as Mexico, Peru, and Chile have also used the type for official transport.
The aircraft type has appeared at events hosted by organizations like the National Business Aviation Association and has been displayed at airshows including Farnborough Airshow and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. It features in discussions of business aviation history alongside milestones involving Bill Lear, Bombardier Aerospace, Gulfstream Aerospace, and industry exhibits at institutions such as the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The model's role in corporate and air ambulance service has been noted in trade publications similar to Aviation Week & Space Technology and Flight International.
Category:Business jets Category:Bombardier aircraft