Bombardier, Flexjet unveil Learjet 85 mock-up aircraft in U.S. tour

DALLAS, 29 Aug. 2012. Business aircraft manufacturer Bombardier and Flexjet, a fractional jet ownership company offering shares on the all-new Learjet 85 aircraft, have embarked on an 11-city U.S. tour.

Bombardier and Flexjet, alongside event partners Rolls-Royce, Full Swing Golf, and Napa Valley Vintners, are providing attendees the opportunity to tour the Learjet 85 mock-up aircraft, being called the first FAR Part 25-certified business jet built primarily from composite materials. Its “advances in aerodynamics, structures, and efficiency…are ushering in a new benchmark in performance,” says a spokesperson.

The Learjet 85 aircraft’s primarily composite structures boast complex curves in the aircraft cross-section and thinner wall thickness to maximize cabin volume, creating what the company is calling “the largest Learjet aircraft ever designed.” The airframe, made mostly of composite material, requires less maintenance, is easier to repair for an extended service life, improves performance, and minimizes drag through smoother aerodynamics, according to the company.

The aircraft also sports a Pratt & Whitney PW307B turbofan engine, the Vision Flight Deck cockpit with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite, and an advanced entertainment and wireless Internet system.

"Anticipation for the Learjet 85 has been building since the program launch back in 2007," says Fred Reid, president of Flexjet. "With delivery scheduled for 2013, we've brought the Learjet 85 aircraft model, and some of our finest partners, to Los Angeles so our owners can truly experience the world of possibilities that will open up to them with the Learjet 85's class-leading innovations. Featuring the latest in cabin technologies, and the Vision Flight Deck cockpit, we are relishing the opportunity to brightly shine the spotlight on the Learjet 85."