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Final Learjet Rolls Out of Production

After 60 years of production, the final Learjet 75 has been rolled out for delivery. The light jet departed a Bombardier Wichita, Kansas hangar this past Monday and marked the end of an era of private jets.

More than 3,000 Learjets have been delivered since the company produced the first Learjet 23 in Wichita in 1964. Learjet was one of the first to manufacture a private, luxury aircraft. The iconic private jet, which was based on a Swiss fighter P-16 aircraft, set many records for speed.

In February 2021, it was announced that Learjet would soon cease production due to a challenging market and competition from other light jets. The brand’s owner since 1990, Bombardier decided to focus on the production of two business jet lines, Challenger and Global.

More than 2,000 Learjets are presently in service and will continue to fly in the future. Bombardier has been adamant that service and parts support will continue. In addition to Learjet production, the Wichita site’s operations include a service center, engineering and special mission aircraft.

A 30-minute ceremony for several hundred employees and guests was held on Monday to honor the legacy of Learjet. Bombardier expects to hold a larger ceremony led by CEO Eric Martel in mid-April to recognize Learjet and the future of the Wichita site.

It was no doubt an emotional day on Monday to mark the end of production. However, it’s evident among the employees that a sense of pride exists for being a part of the legacy. Learjet and its employees truly made a lasting mark on aviation history.