Learjet 35/36

1973


EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT	Virtual Aircraft Museum / USA / Learjet

Development by Garrett of the TFE731 turbofan engine, promising lower noise levels and greater fuel economy than the General Electric CJ610 turbojet which had been the standard Learjet engine, led to the Learjet 35 and Learjet 36 introduced in 1973. It had been intended originally to develop additional versions of the Learjet 25 as the Learjet 25B-GF (Garrett fan) and Learjet 25C-GF. A Learjet 26 served as, the engine test-bed, with a 1588kg thrust TFE731-2 engine in the starboard nacelle and the CJ610 retained on the port side. It was flown on 4 January 1973 followed by a second Learjet 25 with two TFE731-2s and, on 22 August 1973, the first Learjet 35 took to the air.

Compared with the Learjet 25s, the new Learjet 35 and Learjet 36 each had a 0.33m increase in length and, a 0.61m extension to each wingtip, outboard of the ailerons. They differed in fuel/seating capacity, the Learjet 35 carrying a maximum of eight passengers and, with reduced payload, having transcontinental range; and the Learjet 36 seating up to six passengers but with the ability to trade two of them for the extra fuel to give non-stop capability across the North Atlantic. Certification was gained and the first deliveries made in 1974. Two years later golf professional/ pilot Arnold Palmer used a Learjet 36 to establish a new round-the-world class record of 36990km completed in an elapsed time of 57 hours 25 minutes 42 seconds.

Incorporation of the cambered wing and aerodynamic developments introduced in the other members of the Learjet family in 1976 brought redesignation to Learjet 35A and Learjet 36A, and steady product improvement has continued from.that time. The US Air Force leased 84 Model 35As as operational support aircraft between 1984-85 and bought them outright in 1986. These six-to eight-seat light jets are designated C-21A and were joined by four more in 1987. By 1991 around 750 Learjet Model . 35/36 variants had been sold, including approximately 200 special mission versions to 20 customers around the world.

3-View

A three-view drawing of Learjet 35 (1198 x 862)

Specification

MODEL	Learjet 36A
ENGINE	2 x Garrett TFE731-2-2B turbofans, 1588kg
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	8301 kg	18301 lb
Empty weight	4152 kg	9154 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan	12.04 m	40 ft 6 in
Length	14.83 m	49 ft 8 in
Height	3.73 m	12 ft 3 in
Wing area	23.53 m²	253.27 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	850 km/h	528 mph
Cruise speed	774 km/h	481 mph
Ceiling	13715 m	45000 ft
Range	5015 km	3116 miles

Comments

lucy, 20.06.2011 13:08

Then I was the copilot with Bob Fisher as the pilot on the first flight of the Learjet 26 (later designated the Learjet 36)with two TFE engines which took place on 4 January 1973.

Scott Boyd, e-mail, 22.01.2011 05:36

I was there, I was working as a flight instructor for Clinton Aviation at Arapaho Airport. I was also in Cortez when a couple of guys flew a Bonanza around the World, took quite a bit longer.

Andy Lahey, e-mail, 21.09.2008 08:30

Something not too widely known is that world renowned golf pro Arnold Palmer along with three other men set a new international record in 1976, when they flew around the world in a Learjet 36 from Denver to Denver in 57 hours, 25 minutes, and 42 seconds.

Robert Berry, e-mail, 09.05.2008 19:07

This is a great web site with great aircraft information. However, I do have some corrections to this info on the Learjet 35 /36.
I flew the initial engine testbed flights with the TFE 731 engine on the starboard side and the CJ610 engine retained on the port side of a Learjet 25, not a Learjet 26. The first flight of this testbed took place on 19 May 1971.
Then I was the copilot with Bob Fisher as the pilot on the first flight of the Learjet 26 (later designated the Learjet 36)with two TFE engines which took place on 4 January 1973.

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