Learjet 23
| Learjet 23 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| NASA 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 | October 13, 1964 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | Private Military |
| Produced | 1962-1966 |
| Number built | 104 |
The Learjet 23 is an American built six-to-eight-seat (two crew and four to six passengers) twin-engine, high-speed business jet manufactured by Learjet. Introduced in 1964, it was Learjet's first model and created a completely new market for fast and efficient business aircraft. 104 units were manufactured before production ceased just two years later in 1966.
William (Bill) Powell Lear, Sr. recognized the FFA P-16's potential and established Swiss American Aviation Corporation (SAAC) to produce a passenger version as the SAAC-23 Execujet. The company moved to Wichita, Kansas and was renamed as the Lear Jet Corporation, production was started on the first Model 23 Learjet on February 7, 1962. The first flight of the Learjet 23 took place on 7 October 1963 with test pilots Hank Beaird and Bob Hagen. Although the prototype crashed in June 1964 the type Learjet 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.
With this jet a completely new market for fast and efficient business aircraft was opened. The Model 23 was the basis for a whole set of similar aircraft which remain in production.
Production of the Learjet 23 stopped in 1966 after a total of 104 had been built. In 1998 there were still 39 Model 23s in use. A total of 27 have been lost or damaged beyond repair through accidents during the aircraft's lengthy career, the most recent in 2008.
In 2013, the FAA modified 14 CFR part 91 rules to prohibit the operation of jets weighing 75,000 pounds or less that are not stage 3 noise compliant after December 31, 2015. The Learjet 23 is listed explicitly in Federal Register 78 FR 39576. Any Learjet 23s that have not been modified by installing Stage 3 noise compliant engines or have not had "hushkits" installed for non-compliant engines will not be permitted to fly in the contiguous 48 states after December 31, 2015, and the rule points out that appropriate hushkits are not currently available for the Learjet 23. 14 CFR §91.883 Special flight authorizations for jet airplanes weighing 75,000 pounds or less - lists special flight authorizations that may be granted for operation after December 31, 2015.
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66
General characteristics
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