Learjet 23

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

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 13 October 1964
Status Active
Produced 1964-1966[1]
Number built 101[1]

Development

Recognizing the potential of the FFA P-16, William (Bill) Powell Lear, Sr. established Swiss American Aviation Corporation (SAAC) to produce a passenger version: the SAAC-23 Execujet. The company moved to Wichita, Kansas and renamed the Lear Jet Corporation. Production began on the first Model 23 Lear Jet on February 7, 1962. The first flight took place on 7 October 1963 with test pilots Hank Beaird and Bob Hagen.[2] Although the prototype crashed in June 1964 the Lear Jet 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.

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.[3]

Noise compliance

In 2013, the FAA modified the FAR Part 91 rules to prohibit the operation of jets weighing 75,000 pounds or less that are not Stage 3 noise compliant beyond December 31, 2015, with the Lear Jet 23 listed in the Federal Register 78 FR 39576. This meant that any Lear Jet 23's without modified Stage 3 noise-compliant engines - or an approved hushkit - were no longer permitted to fly in the contiguous 48 states after that date. The ruling noted that appropriate hushkits were not currently available for the Lear Jet 23.

Aircraft on display
NASA Learjet 23 chase aircraft

Operators
 United States
  • NASA
  • Executive Jet Aviation

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66[13]

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: 231.2 sq ft (21.48 m2)
  • Empty weight: 6,150 lb (2,790 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 12,499 lb (5,669 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CJ610-4 turbojet engines, 2,850 lbf (12.7 kN) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 561 mph (903 km/h, 487 kn) at 24,000 ft (7,300 m)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.82
  • Cruise speed: 518 mph (834 km/h, 450 kn) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
  • Stall speed: 104 mph (167 km/h, 90 kn) wheels and flaps down
  • Range: 1,830 mi (2,950 km, 1,590 nmi) max fuel at 485 mph (781 km/h; 421 kn) and 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
  • Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (14,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 6,900 ft/min (35 m/s)
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See also

Related lists

References
  1. Murdo Morrison (12 Oct 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. Aviation Safety Network: Learjet 23
  4. "Lear Jet 23". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. 2016-03-18. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  5. "Learjet 23/24 production list". rzjets. rzjets.net. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  6. "Learjet Model 23". Kansas Aviation Museum. 2014-06-11. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  7. Mathews, Kay (4 February 2011). "Since 1986 aviation history flies high at the Arkansas Air Museum". Digital Journal. digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  8. "Aircraft N23BY Data". Airport-Data.com. Airport-Data.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  9. "Learjet 23". The Museum of Flight. The Museum Of Flight. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  10. "Airframe Dossier - Swiss American Aviation CorporationLearjet, c/n 23-068, c/r N73CE". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  11. "Airframe Dossier - Swiss American Aviation Corporation 23 Lear Jet, c/n 23-083, c/r N824LJ". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  12. "Learjet 23". Pima Air and Space Museum. Pima Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  13. Taylor 1965, pp. 252–253.
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