Learjet 60

infobox Aircraft
name = Learjet 60

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caption = Learjet 60 parked at Filton Airfield, Bristol, England
type = Business jet
manufacturer = Bombardier Aerospace
designer =
first flight = June 1991
introduced = January 1993
retired =
status =
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Learjet 55
variants with their own articles =

The Learjet 60 is an American business jet aircraft manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace at Wichita, Kansas. The Learjet 60 does not have the range for direct transoceanic flights from the United States, although it can cross the Atlantic from Newfoundland to the British Isles. A new Learjet 60 costs around $13 million, although used aircraft can be purchased for around $7 million.Fact|date=September 2008

Development

The Learjet 60 is an improved version of the Learjet 55, with a longer fuselage and more powerful engines. It first flew in June 1991 and received FAA certification in January 1993. [ [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=128 Airliners.net profile] ]

The modifications that converted the Learjet Model 55 into a Model 60 resulted from an aerodynamics improvement program and a need to increase the capacity of the Learjet product line. Several of these modifications were a first for Learjet. They include an all new inboard wing cuff added to the inboard sections of the “Longhorn” wing and an all new wing-to-body fairing. By increasing the wing chord and the leading edge droop, the wing cuff improved handling during approach and landing while the wing-to-body fairing reduced the interference drag between the wing and the fuselage. Since the engines were new for this aircraft, a new engine pylon had to be designed.

The lines of the cockpit have not changed but the fuselage was lengthened. In addition, the blend between the fuselage and the empennage was all new. While it appears as if area ruling was the intension of the blending, the blend design was really driven by attaching the original Learjet Model 35 empennage onto the larger Learjet Model 60 fuselage. An all new E/B (Emergency/Baggage) door was added to the right-hand side of the fuselage just at the leading edge of the wing.

The final aerodynamic improvement to the Model 60 was the creation of the distinctive "Ogive" winglet trailing edge. This lengthening of the chord near the interface of the winglet and the wing improved the interaction of the wing’s pressure spike with the winglet’s pressure spike. The result was a significant lowering of the drag in this area and a significant improvement of the wing's efficiency. On the prior “Longhorn” wing the interference between the winglet and the wing nearly canceled the effects of the winglet.

The Learjet Model 45 winglet blend design took into account the lessons learned from the Model 60 and the ogive was not necessary.

The single ventral fin was replaced with two ventral fins that Learjet called "Delta Fins".

Production of the Learjet 60 ended in 1997 after 314 aircraft had been built.

Learjet 60 XR

The company launched a new variant in 2005 designated the Learjet 60 XR and following certification in 2005 deliveries started in 2007. The new 60 XR has an upgraded cabin, new avionics and other improvements.

One distinguishing characteristic of this aircraft is its time-to-climb. This aircraft can climb faster than most jets, making it very impressive to see. The July 2008 issue of Flying magazine features the plane. Citation | last = McClellan | first = J. Mac | publication-date = July 2007 | title = Learjet 60 XR | edition = 7 | volume = 135 | place = New York | publisher = Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. | pages = 48–53 | url = | accessdate = 2008-06-16]

Operators

Government

;MKD : 1 Learjet 60 delivered in April 2005 to replace the lost King Air 200. Used by the Government for VIP transport. [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/fyrm/mac-govt-aircraft.htm#lear] )

Incidents and accidents

* On September 19, 2008, a Learjet 60 crashed while taking off from Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, South Carolina. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26803108/] , as well as MSNBC News Live, 8:30 AM, September 20, 2008.] .http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-learjet-crash,0,4049953.story ] Performers Travis Barker and DJ AM were injured, while four others were killed in the crash. [ [http://www.showbizspy.com/showbiz/09202008/Travis-Barker-Critically-Injured-in-Plane-Crash "Travis Barker, DJ AM Critically Injured in Plane Crash," ShowbizSpy.com] ] According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was departing the airport, when air traffic controllers saw sparks emanating from the plane, which went off the runway, smashed through a fence, crossed a nearby road, slammed into an embankment and caught fire. [MSNBC Live]

pecifications (Learjet 60)

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
crew=2
capacity=8 to 10 passengers
length main=58 ft 7 in
length alt=17.88 m
span main=43 ft 9 in
span alt=13.34 m
height main=14 ft 6 in
height alt=4.44 m
area main=264.8 ft²
area alt=24.6 m²
empty weight main=14,640 lb
empty weight alt=6,641 kg
max takeoff weight main=23,500 lb
max takeoff weight alt=10,660 kg
more general=
engine (jet)=Pratt & Whitney 305A
type of jet=
number of jets=2
thrust main=4,600 lbf
thrust alt=20.46 kN
max speed main=534 mph
max speed alt=464 knots, 859 km/h
cruise speed main=486 mph
cruise speed alt=447 knots, 782 km/h
range main=2,876 mi
range alt=2,499 nm, 4,628 km
ceiling main=51,000 ft
ceiling alt=15,545 m
climb rate main=2,158 ft/min
climb rate alt=11.0 m/s
loading main=88.7 lb/ft²
loading alt=433 kg/m²
thrust/weight=0.39
more performance=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
*Cessna Citation VII
*Gulfstream G100
*Hawker 800XP
sequence=
lists=

References

External links

* [http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?id=3_0&lang=en&file=/en/3_0/3_2/3_2_1/3_2_1.jsp Bombardier Learjet website]
* [http://www.yearoflearjet.com Year of Learjet website]