Learjet 45

Learjet 45
Gama Aviation Learjet 45 at Farnborough, England in July 2006
Role	Business Jet
National origin	Canada and United States
Manufacturer	Bombardier Aerospace
First flight	7 October 1995
Introduction	January, 1998
Status	Active
Produced	1995-present
Number built	642[1]
Unit cost	$13.209 million (2012)[2]
Variants	Learjet 40
Developed into	Learjet 70/75

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

History

The development of the LJ45 was announced by Bombardier in September, 1992, and first flight of the prototype aircraft took place on October 7, 1995, the 32nd anniversary of the first flight of the Learjet 23. FAA certification was delayed, and finally granted in September 1997, with the first customer aircraft subsequently delivered in January, 1998.^[3] The cockpit is equipped with a four-screen Honeywell Primus 1000 EFIS avionics system. The aircraft is powered by two DEEC-controlled Honeywell TFE731-20 engines, a version developed specifically for this airframe. An internal APU provides ground power.^[3]

The Learjet 45XR is an upgraded version introduced in June, 2004, offering higher takeoff weights, faster cruise speeds and faster time-to-climb rates as compared to the LJ45. The increases are due to the upgrading of the engines to the TFE731-20BR configuration. LJ45 owners can upgrade their aircraft through the incorporation of several service bulletins.^[4]

In size, the LJ45 and LJ45XR fit between the smaller Learjet 31 and Learjet 40 and the larger Learjet 60 in the Lear product line. It has a 1,971-nautical-mile (3,650 km; 2,268 mi) range at Mach 0.81 with four passengers on board. De Havilland Canada builds the LJ45s wings, and Bombardier subsidiary Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland, builds the fuselage and empennage.

Accident and Incidents

• 2008 Mexico City plane crash; On 4 November 2008, Mexican Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mouriño, Assistant Attorney General José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos and 7 others were killed in an accident involving a Learjet 45XR. The aircraft crashed on a busy road, killing another 7 people on the ground. Investigators determined that the pilots had been flying too close to a 767 and lost control after flying into the larger plane's wake turbulence.

Operators

Learjet 45XR

Military operators

 Ireland

• Irish Air Corps^[5]

 Peru

• Peru Air Force

Civilian operators

 Argentina

• Santiago del Estero Government.^[6]

 El Salvador

• Government of El Salvador

 Ireland

• Ryanair

 Italy

• Eurofly Service
• Sirio

 Morocco

• Medi Business Jet

 Mexico

• Executive Express Aviation
• FlyMex

 Montenegro

• Government of Montenegro

 Luxembourg

• Luxembourg Air Rescue

 Turkey

• Redstar Aviation^[7]

 United Kingdom

• Gama

 Iran

• The Eghtesad Family
• Eghtesad Novin Group of Companies

Specifications

Nighttime View of the Learjet 45

Isle of Man registered Learjet 45

Learjet 45 parked Gunnison-Crested Butte Airport.

Learjet 45 parked at Boone County Airport (Arkansas).

Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000^[8]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 9 passengers
• Length: 58 ft 0 in (17.68 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 10 in (14.58 m)
• Height: 14 ft 1 in (4.30 m)
• Wing area: 311.6 ft² (28.95 m²)
• Empty weight: 12,850 lb (5,829 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 21,500 lb (9,752 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Honeywell TFE731-20 turbofan, 3,500 lb (15.57 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 533 mph (463 knots, 858 km/h, Mach 0.81) (max cruise)
• Cruise speed: 510 mph (445 knots, 804 km/h, Mach 0.76)
• Range: 1,968 mi (1,710 nmi, 3,167 km) (4 passengers)
• Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (15,545 m)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Cessna Citation III / Cessna Citation VII
• Gulfstream G100
• Hawker 800XP
• Pilatus PC-24

References

1. "Learjet 45/40 production list". rzjets.
2. "Operations Planning Guide" (PDF). Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week. August 2012.
3. Specifications and history of the LJ45 on Airliners.net
4. "Bombardier Aerospace Launches Learjet 40XR High Performance Light Jet." from Wings over Kansas
5. "Air Corps: Organisation: Fleet". Óglaigh na hÉireann: Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
6. "Perfil newspaper"
7. New addition to Turkey's medevac fleet
8. Taylor 1999, pp. 512–513.

• Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.

External links

• Specifications and history from Flug-Revue