The Learjet 55 "Longhorn" is an American business jet manufactured by
Learjet.
Development and design
The Learjet 50 series was first announced at the 1977
Paris air show
The Paris Air Show (french: Salon international de l'aéronautique et de l'espace de Paris-Le Bourget, Salon du Bourget) is a trade fair and air show held in odd years at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France. Organized by the French ...
with larger cabins than the existing Learjets.
The series was to have three variants, the Learjet 54, 55 and 56 but only the Learjet 55 was built.
The Learjet 55 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil List of government space agencies, space program ...
developed
winglets
Wingtip devices are intended to improve the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft by reducing drag. Although there are several types of wing tip devices which function in different manners, their intended effect is always to reduce an aircraft' ...
, the winglets gave rise to the nickname ''Longhorn''. The aircraft has a T-tail and is powered by two
Garrett TFE731
The Garrett TFE731 (now Honeywell TFE731) is a family of geared turbofan engines commonly used on business jet aircraft. Garrett AiResearch originally designed and built the engine, which due to mergers was later produced by AlliedSignal and n ...
turbofans mounted each side of the rear fuselage.
It has a retractable tricycle landing gear and an enclosed cabin for up to ten passengers and a cockpit for the two crew.
Construction of the Learjet 55 began in April 1978 after extensive testing and work on the wing design which came, initially, from the Learjet 25. The Learjet 55 first flew on 19 April 1979. The first production aircraft were produced starting 18 March 1981. 147 Learjet 55 aircraft were delivered.
By 2018, a Learjet 55 can be had for $1 million or less.
Variants
;Learjet 54
:Proposed 11-seat variant, not built.
;Learjet 55
:Production variant, 126 built.
;Learjet 55B
:1986 - Improved version with a glass cockpit, improved take-off performance and increased range, 8 built.
;Learjet 55C
:1987 - New rear underfuselage design, with
Delta Fins to improve lateral
Dutch roll stability, and reduce takeoff and landing speeds.
;Learjet 55C/ER
:Extended-range version of the Learjet 55C.
;Learjet 55C/LR
:Long-range version of the Learjet 55C, fitted with an extra tank, carrying an extra of fuel in the
tail cone.
;Learjet 56
:Proposed eight-seat version, not built.
Operators
;
*
Servicios Aéreos Profesionales
Servicios Aéreos Profesionales, S.A. (also known as SAP Air or SAP Group) is an airline with its corporate headquarters on the property of La Isabela International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It operates services in the Caribbea ...
Specifications
References
Notes
Bibliography
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External links
{{Learjet
55
1970s United States business aircraft
Twinjets
T-tail aircraft
Low-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1979