Bombardier Learjet 45

Type (Muster)
Mid-sized business-jet (Geschäftsreiseflugzeug)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Bombardier Aerospace (Learjet)
One Learjet Way
Wichita, Kansas 67277-7707
USA

Phone: 001-316/946-2000
Fax: 001-316/946-2204

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2
Passengers (Passagiere): up to 9
Baggage volume (Gepäckraum): 1,42 cu m

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Honeywell (AlliedSignal) TFE731-20
Thrust (Schub): 2 x 3500 lbs (15,56 kN) at take-off (flat rated to 31 deg C)
Fuel consumption (Kraftstoffverbrauch): 579 litres/hour average at cruise speeds
TBO: 2500 hours

Noise levels:
Takeoff (Start): 74,4 EPNdB
Approach (Anflug): 93,4 EPNdB
Sideline (Vorbeiflug): 85,2 EPNdB

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 17,81 m
Height (Höhe): 4,31 m
Span (Spannweite): 14,58 m
Maximum fuselage diameter (Rumpfdurchmesser): 1,75 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 28,95 sq m
Sweep at 25 % chord (Pfeilung bei 25 Grad Flügeltiefe): 13,4 degrees

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 6,02 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 1,54 m (half height / in halber Höhe)
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,50 m
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 11,6 cu m excluding flight deck

Weights (Massen)
Basic operating weight (Einsatz-Leermasse): 6146
Max. payload (max. Nutzlast): 1111 kg
Payload with full fuel (Nutzlast mit vollen Tanks): 516 kg
Max. fuel (Max. Kraftstoff): 2750 kg
Fuel with max. payload (Kraftstoff bei max. Nutzlast): 2155 kg
Max. zero-fuel weight (Max. Masse ohne Kraftstoff): 7257 kg
Max. ramp weight (Max. Masse am Boden): 9412 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 9299 kg
Max. landing weight (Max. Landemasse): 8709 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): Mach 0.81 / 468 kts (867 km/h)
Normal cruise speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit): Mach 0.79 / 457 kts (846 km/h)
Long range cruise speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit auf langen Strecken): Mach 0.73 / 420 kts (778 km/h)
Max. operating altitude (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 15545 m (51000 ft)
Time to climb to 45000 ft (Steigzeit): 37 min at max. take-off weight
Balanced field length (Startstrecke): 1326 m (sea level, ISA, max. weight)
Landing distance at max landing weight (Landestrecke): 811 m
Range (Reichweite): 2120 NM (3926 km) with NBAA IFR reserves, ISA, 4 passengers

Costs (Kosten)
According to Bombardier, the list price for a factory-equipped aircraft including typical optional equipment is 8,2 US-Dollars in 1999

Customers (Kunden)
Orders for more than 155 aircraft have been received by May 1998, from customers in 17 countries. This includes 40 Learjet 45s for Business JetSolutions, a fractional ownership company. Other customers are Singapore Airlines and Gold Air of the UK.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Cessna Citation Excel
Cessna Citation VII
Raytheon Beechjet 400A

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Learjet 45 was announced at the September 1992 NBAA Convention in Dallas, as an all-new mid-size jet "at a light-jet price". Design and manufacture was with latest CAD/DAM techniques from the start, easing the co-operation between Learjet at Wichita (overall engineering, final assembly, flight test and certification) and two other Bombardier units: Shorts at Belfast (fuselage) and de Havilland at Toronto (wings).
Engine tests were conducted on a Learjet 31 from January 1995. The first wing/fuselage mate had occured in November 1994. Five aircraft were earmarked for the test programme:

45-001: First flight October 7, 1995
45-002: First flight April 6, 1996 (flutter testing)
45-003: First flight April 24, 1996 (avionics testing)
45-004: First flight November 17, 1996 (lightning strike tests and engine/fuel system tests)
45-005: First flight October 22, 1996 (function and reliability testing, including interior noise levels)

They had achieved more than 1550 hours on some 850 flights by mid 1997. On the ground, the static test programme was complete and fatigue tests have proven 20000 cycles.
The much delayed FAA certification (with many restricitons) was granted on September 22, 1997. Final approval followed on May 6, 1998, though the thrust-reverser and the APU were still not functional at this time. JAA certification was in July 1998.
Customer deliveries of the Learjet 45 began in July 1998, to Hytrol Conveyor of Jonesboro, Arkansas. The first European aircraft went to Eifel Holdings of Jersey in September 1998. 20 aircraft were in servie as of June 1, 1999. The fleet had acumulated more than 4000 hours with a dispatch reliability of 99.4 per cent by then.
In June 1999, Bombardier announced a series of performance enhancing features, including improved brake effectiveness, reduction of take-off speeds, higher take-off weight and updated avionics software.
As of mid-September 1999, deliveries had risen to some 40 aircraft. The 2000th Learjet ever built was a Learjet 45, which was handed over in August 1999 to long-time Bombardier supplier and customer Parker Hannifin.
In 2000, Bombardier built 71 Learjet 45s. The 100th aircraft was delivered in October 2000 to a corporate operator in the Philippines. For some time, it served as a company demonstrator. It featured an enhanced cabin fitting with restyled seats and a 10 to 12 db reduction in the noise levels for passengers, as well as improvements in the air distribution system.
At the Paris Air Show in June 2001, Bombardier Aerospace announced that it will improve the payload-range capabilities of the Learjet 45 super light business jet. Plans are to increase the maximum takeoff weight by a minimum of 363 kg. The current maximum take-off weight of 9, 299 kg will increase to 9,662 kg.This will enable Learjet 45 operators to take greater advantage of the aircraft's eight-passenger standard configuration. With the improved capabilities, the Learjet 45 will be able to take eight passengers on long flights, such as Moscow to Madrid or Cairo to Paris. The MTOW increased will be certified in the third quarter of 2002, at which time it will become a standard feature on all new aircraft. For in-service aircraft, a service bulletin will be made available at that time.

You can also view a cockpit photo!

Last updated 28 August 2001

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