Learjet 35

Learjet 35/36
Swiss Luftwaffe Learjet 35A
Role Business jet
Manufacturer Learjet
First flight 22 August 1973
Status Operational
Number built 738
Developed from Learjet 25

The Learjet Model 35 and Model 36 are a series of American multi-role business jets and military transport aircraft. When used by the United States Air Force they carry the designation C-21A.

The aircraft are powered by two Garrett TFE731-2 turbofan engines. Its cabin can be arranged for 6-8 passengers. The Model 36 has a shortened passenger area in the fuselage, in order to provide more space in the aft fuselage for fuel tanks. It is designed for longer-range mission capability.

The engines are mounted in nacelles on the sides of the aft fuselage. The wings are equipped with single-slotted flaps. The wingtip fuel tanks distinguish the design from other aircraft having similar functions.

Contents

Development

The concept which became the LJ35 began as the Learjet 25BGF (with GF referring to "Garrett Fan"), a Learjet 25 with a then-new TFE731 turbofan engine mounted on the left side in place of the 25's General Electric CJ610 turbojet engine. This testbed aircraft first flew in May, 1971.[1] As a result of the increased power and reduced noise of the new engine, Learjet further improved the design, and instead of being simply a variant of the 25, it became its own model, the 35.

Operational history

In 1976 American professional golfer Arnold Palmer used a Learjet 36 to establish a new round-the-world class record of 22,894 miles (36990 km) completed in 57 hours 25 minutes 42 seconds.

Learjet 35s made the bulk of Escuadrón Fénix during the 1982 Falklands War mainly on diversion flights.

Production on the 35/36 series ceased in 1994.[2]

As of January, 2007, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board database[3] lists 19 fatal accidents for the 35/35A, and two for the 36/36A.

Variants

Learjet 35

The original Model 35 was powered by two TFE731-2-2A engines and was 13 inches longer than its predecessor, the Model 25. First flight of the prototype Model 35 was on 22 August 1973, and the aircraft was FAA certified in July, 1974. It could carry up to eight passengers. There were 64 base-model 35s built.[2]

Learjet 35A

The Model 35A is an upgraded Model 35 with TFE731-2-2B engines and a range of 2,789 miles, with a fuel capacity of 931 US gallons (3,524 L) with refueling accomplished at ground level through each wingtip tank. It was introduced in 1976, replacing the 35. Over 600 35As were built, with a production line that ended with serial number 677, in 1993.[2]

On February 12, 1996, a Learjet 35A piloted by Mark E. Calkins, Charles Conrad, Jr., Paul Thayer, and Daniel Miller completed an around-the-world flight in record time.[4] The record remains standing as of 2011.[5] This aircraft is now on display in Terminal C of Denver International Airport.

Variants

C-21A
The C-21A is an "off the shelf" military variant of the Learjet 35A, with room for eight passengers and 42 ft³ (1.26 m³) of cargo. In addition to its normal role, the aircraft is capable of transporting litters during medical evacuations. Delivery of the C-21A fleet began in April 1984 and was completed in October 1985. Dyncorp International provides full contractor logistics support at seven worldwide locations.

There are 38 Air Force active duty aircraft, and 18 Air National Guard aircraft in the C-21A fleet. On 1 April 1997, all continental U.S.-based C-21As were realigned under Air Mobility Command, with the 375th Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, as the lead command. C-21As stationed outside the continental United States are assigned to the theater commanders.[6]

EC-21A
Not a U.S. military designation. Electronic warfare training version of the Learjet 35A.
PC-21A
Not a U.S. military designation. Maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare version of the Learjet 35A, equipped with a search radar, FLIR, infra-red linescanner, ESM and MAD systems, high-resolution TV, plus a hardpont under each wing, able to carry up to 454-kg (1,000-lb) in weight.
RC-21A
Not a U.S. military designation. Reconnaissance version of the Learjet 35A, equipped with a long-range oblique photography cameras, side-looking synthetic aperture radar, podded surveillance camera systems.
U-36
A Combat support variant of the Learjet 35A for the Japan Air self Defense Force (JASDF)
Learjet 36
The Model 36 is essentially identical to the 35, except that it has a larger fuselage fuel tank, giving it 500 miles longer range, but reducing the passenger area's length by 18 inches (0.46 m). It was certified, along with the 35, in July, 1974.
Learjet 36A
Like the 35A, the Model 36A has upgraded engines and a higher maximum gross weight. It was introduced in 1976, replacing the 36.[2]
R-21A
Not a U.S. military designation. Reconnaissance version of the Learjet 36A, equipped with a long-range oblique photography cameras, SLAR and a survellance camera system.
U-21A
Not a U.S. military designation. Utility transport, training version of the Learjet 36A. Four were built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

After-Market Modifications

Raisbeck Engineering offers two after-market modifications to the Learjet 35 and 36 series of aircraft. The Aft Fuselage Locker offered by this company is an external storage container mounted below the rear fuselage that can hold 300 lb of baggage.[7] The addition of the locker imposes no performance penalties on the aircraft. This company also offers the ZR LITE performance improvement package.[8] This modification reduces the cruise drag of the aircraft resulting in 25% less time-to-climb, 3000 to 4000 feet higher initial cruise altitude, .02+ increase in cruise Mach at equal power settings, 1% decrease in N1 and 15° ITT reduction at equal Mach and a 5-10% increase in range.

Avcon Industries also offers two after-market modifications to the Learjet 35 and 36 series of aircraft. The Avcon Fins are delta fins mounted n the aft fuselage, similar to those used on the Learjet 31 which improve directional stability when installed on Lear 35 & 36 models, and eliminate the FAA requirement for operable yaw dampers.[9] The Avcon R/X modifications adds 750 pounds of usable fuel in the tip tanks, which provides up to 40 minutes of additional flight time at normal cruise speeds and altitudes.[10]

Notable accidents and incidents

Operators

Civilian operators

German Air Rescue (DRF Stiftung Luftrettung gAg), AirMedical Ltd, Oxford, England

Raytheon Australia EWTS [20]

Pelair (Australia) Defence and government related aviation support, Medivac, Executive Charter, Freight, Special Mission activities for international aid organisations [21]

Air Affairs (Australia) Corporate Charter, Medivac, Target Towing [22]

Líder Aviação (Brazil) Corporate Charter and Medivac -Líder Aviação

Rent Jets (Republic of Moldavia) Executive Charter -Rent Jets

Airnet Systems, Inc. (U.S.A) Cargo and Executive Charters

Military operators

 Argentina
 Bolivia
 Brazil
 Chile
 Finland
 Japan
 Mexico
 Namibia
 Switzerland
 United Arab Emirates
 United States
 Thailand

Specifications (C-21A)

Data from {GlobalSecurity}[6]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related lists

References

  1. ^ The Learjet 35, 36 & 31 at Airliners.net
  2. ^ a b c d Learjet 30 Series Information from Spectrajet
  3. ^ NTSB database querey
  4. ^ "Record File No. 3113". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. http://records.fai.org/file?i=2&f=3113. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  5. ^ "General Aviation World Records, Sub-class C-1f, turbojet". Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. http://records.fai.org/general_aviation/current.asp?id1=127&id2=4. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  6. ^ a b C-21A Learjet at GlobalSecurity.org
  7. ^ Raisbeck Aft Fuselage Locker for Learjet Model 35/36
  8. ^ Raisbeck ZR LITE Technology for Model 35/36 Learjets
  9. ^ Avcon Fins
  10. ^ Avcon R/X Modifications
  11. ^ Escuadron Fenix
  12. ^ DefenseLink news release of C-21 accident
  13. ^ NTSB accident brief of Ethiopia shoot-down
  14. ^ Aircraft Accident Brief, N47BA
  15. ^ accident description from the Aviation Safety Network database
  16. ^ Accident report from the Bureau d'études et d'Analyses
  17. ^ [1]
  18. ^ Folha Online - Cotidiano - Queda de avião destrói duas casas e interdita outras duas em SP - 04/11/2007
  19. ^ "Two victims in Des Plaines River plane crash". Chicago Tribune. January 5, 2010. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-100105plane-link,0,4502255.storylink. Retrieved January 4, 2010. 
  20. ^ http://www.defence.gov.au/teamaustralia/electronic_warfare_training_services_%28EWTS%29.htm
  21. ^ http://www.pelair.com.au/
  22. ^ http://www.airaffairs.com.au/learjet_35A_aircraft.htm

External links

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