WICHITA—The last new Learjet light business jet, a Learjet 75 Liberty, has rolled off Bombardier’s Wichita production line and into the paint department for completion before customer delivery, Learjet insiders say, bringing production of the iconic Learjet closer to its ultimate conclusion.
More than 3,000 Learjets have been delivered since entry-into-service in 1963. Bombardier will continue to service the Learjet fleet across its service network.
The final Learjet, Serial #45-609, was registered to Learjet Inc. with the FAA in December, according to Aviation Week Network data. It is not clear when the aircraft will be delivered to the customer.
In February 2021, Bombardier announced plans to cease Learjet production, first started by Bill Lear and modeled after a Swiss fighter jet, to focus on its larger and more profitable Challenger and Global lines of business jets as the line faced increased competition in the light jet segment.
The penultimate Learjet 75, Serial #45-608, has come off the production line as well and took its maiden flight on Jan. 31, according to Aviation Week data.
On Jan. 17, Bombardier performed the test flight for a third Learjet 75 Liberty, Serial #45-607. The aircraft delivered to Fargo Jet Center in Fargo, North Dakota, where the aircraft will be converted for air ambulance operations at Fargo Jet Center’s special mission completions center and delivered to an international client. Work on the conversion is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2022, a company official has said.
In 2021, Bombardier delivered 10 Learjet 75 aircraft, according to Aviation Week, similar to 2020 deliveries.
A Bombardier spokeswoman declined to confirm or comment on the status of the Learjet aircraft. The company will provide formal comment once the final aircraft is delivered, she says.
In the meantime, however, Bombardier is working to retrain workers for its growing Wichita special-mission division and the Wichita service center, which maintains Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
“We’re really proud of the workforce,” says Anna Cristofaro, a Bombardier spokesperson. “We’re working hard to retrain everyone.”
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the delivery of Learjet Serial #45-607 to Fargo Jet Center in late January and the first flight of Serial #45-608.
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