Learjet 55

Learjet 55
Learjet 55 on final approach
General information
Type	Business jet
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Learjet
Status	In service
Number built	147
History
Manufactured	1979–1987
Introduction date	1981
First flight	19 April 1979

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 with larger cabins than existing Learjets. ^[1] The series was to have three variants, the Learjet 54, 55 and 56 but only the Learjet 55 was built. ^[1] The Learjet 55 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with NASA-developed winglets. The aircraft has a T-tail and is powered by two Garrett TFE731 turbofans mounted each side of the rear fuselage. ^[1] It has a retractable tricycle landing gear and an enclosed cabin for up to ten passengers and a cockpit for the two crew. ^[1] 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. In total, 147 Learjet 55 aircraft were delivered.

Variants

Learjet 54

Proposed 11-seat variant; not built. ^[2]

Learjet 55

Production variant; 126 built. ^[2]

Learjet 55B

1986 - Improved version with a glass cockpit, improved take-off performance and increased range, 8 built. ^[2]

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 259 lb (117 kg) of fuel in the tail cone.

Learjet 56

Proposed eight-seat version, not built. ^[2]

Operators

  Dominican Republic

• Servicios Aéreos Profesionales ^[3]

Accidents and incidents

• On 31 January 2025, Med Jets Flight 056, a Mexican-registered Learjet 55 operating as a air ambulance by a Miami/Mexico based Jet Rescue Air Ambulance with six people on board crashed near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia, at the intersection of Bustleton and Cottman Avenues, 40 seconds after takeoff from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 6:06 p.m. EST. The pediatric patient and her mother were en route to Tijuana International Airport in Mexico via Springfield-Branson National Airport, northwest of Springfield in Greene County, Missouri, after a medical procedure in Philadelphia Shriners Hospital. ^[4] All occupants of the aircraft died in the crash.

Specifications

Data from Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 10
• Length: 55 ft 1 in (16.80 m)
• Wingspan: 43 ft 10 in (13.35 m)
• Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.48 m)
• Wing area: 264.5 sq ft (24.57 m²)
• Empty weight: 13,000 lb (5,897 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 21,500 lb (9,752 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Garrett TFE731-3A-2B turbofan aero-engine, 3,700 lbf (16 kN) thrust each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 541 mph (871 km/h, 470 kn) at 30,000 ft (9,145 m)
• Cruise speed: 462 mph (744 km/h, 402 kn) at 49,000 ft (14,935 m)
• Range: 2,492 mi (4,010 km, 2,165 nmi) with four passengers and fuel reserves
• Service ceiling: 51,000 ft (15,544 m)

References

Notes

1. Orbis 1985, p. 1935
2. Simpson 1991, pp. 187-188
3. "SAP Group - Aircrafts[sic]". Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
4. Deliso, Meredith. "Small plane crashes near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia in fiery explosion". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-02-01.

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
• Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN   1-85310-194-X.