Learjet 23

Infobox Aircraft
name = Learjet 23

---

caption = NASA Learjet 23
type = Business jet
manufacturer = Learjet
designer = Dr.eng. Hans-Luzius Studer
first flight = October 7, 1963
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = Private
more users = Military
NASA
produced = 1962-1966
number built = 104
unit cost =

The Learjet 23 is an American six to eight seat (two crew and four to six passengers) twin-engined, high speed business jet. Manufactured by Learjet, the LJ23 was revolutionary in the aviation world.

History

The Model 23 has its roots in a proposed fighter aircraft for Switzerland known as the FFA P-16, designed by Hans-Luzius Studer. Although the fighter was not built, William (Bill) Powell Lear, Sr. recognized the design's potential and established Swiss American Aviation Corporation (SAAC) to produce the aircraft as the SAAC Lear Jet 23. The company was moved to Wichita, Kansas where production was started on the first Model 23 on February 7, 1962. The first flight of the Learjet 23 took place on October 7, 1963, and on October 13, 1964, the first production aircraft was delivered.

With this jet a completely new market for fast and efficient business aircraft was opened. The LJ23 is considered as a model for a whole set of similar aeroplanes which remain in production.

Production of the Learjet 23 stopped in 1966 after a total of 104 had been built. In 1998 there were still 39 LJ23s in use. A total of 26 LJ23s have been lost through accidents.

pecifications

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
crew=Two pilots
capacity=6 passengers
length main=35 ft 7 in
length alt=10.84 m
span main=43 ft 3 in
span alt=13.18 m
height main=12 ft 3
height alt=3.73 m
area main=230.99 ft²
area alt=21.46 m²
empty weight main=6151 lb
empty weight alt=2,790 kg
loaded weight main=3,517 kg 9000 Lb Zero Fuel Weight
loaded weight alt=7,755 lb
max takeoff weight main=12,499 with an additional 250 lb allowed for taxi fuel
max takeoff weight alt=12,499 lb
more general=
engine (jet)=General Electric CJ610-4
type of jet=turbojets
number of jets=2
thrust main=
thrust alt=
max speed main=561 mph
max speed alt=487 knots, 903 km/h
max speed more= Mach .82
range main=2,549 mi
range alt=2,215 nm, 4,102 km
range more=
ceiling main=44,996 ft FAA Certified for 41,000 Ft
ceiling alt=13,715 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=

References

* [http://www.airwar.ru/enc_e/aliner/ljet23.html Specs of LJ23]
* [http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/history/article.asp?id=199 Learjet timeline from Wings of Kansas]

External links

* [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=264 A history of the LJ23-LJ29 series on Airliners.net]

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
sequence=
LJ23 - LJ24 - LJ25 - LJ28 - LJ29
lists=
List of aircraftLearjet