Learjets: The World's Executive Aircraft

The aviation world laughed when, in the late 1950s, maverick Bill Lear proposed the idea of a jet designed and built exclusively for transporting corporate executives. No one believed there would be enough demand for such an airplane. As was often the case, Lear proved his detractors wrong. By the mid-1960s, the term "Learjet" had become synonymous with corporate air travel - Lear had singlehandedly revolutionized private business transportation.

This is the compelling story of Bill Lear and the aircraft that assured his place in the annals of aviation history. Author Donald J. Porter traces the history of Learjets, from conception to later production models - with absorbing accounts of how the modern executive jet concept evolved, the problems Lear encountered in producing the aircraft and the Learjet's early technical problems. Included are breathtaking photos and many excellent illustrations depicting the aircraft's innovative design, as well as detailed specifications and performance data for each model.