Learjet 60 XR, An Airplane With Roots

FLYING Staff

Wednesday, July 02, 2008 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Bombardier Learjet 60 XR

Key Takeaways:

The Learjet 60 XR represents the pinnacle of over 40 years of Learjet design, serving as the final evolutionary step of Bill Lear's original concept while incorporating significant modern refinements.
It features substantial upgrades including a state-of-the-art Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite, a redesigned, more spacious and luxurious interior, and improved systems for enhanced safety and pilot experience.
The 60 XR maintains Learjet's signature performance with rapid climb rates and good cruise speed, coupled with exceptional fuel economy that claims up to a 17% advantage over competitors and the lowest direct operating costs in its midsize category.
Its proven design and continuous refinement result in high dispatch reliability (aiming for 99.7%) and simplified maintenance, instilling confidence in its operational cost-effectiveness.

See a mistake? Contact us.

In aviation we admire fat logbooks of experience for both pilots and airplanes. New technology offers promise, but a successful history breeds confidence. And that’s what the new Learjet 60 XR exudes — confidence that you are getting the best of more than 40 years of Learjet heritage.

The 60 XR is a refined version of the Model 60 Learjet that was first introduced in 1993. The XR version has a supremely capable Collins Pro Line 21 flat glass avionics suite and a nicely restyled interior, but most importantly, it is at its core faithful to the original Learjet. And it is the last airplane that will carry the DNA of Bill Lear’s Model 23, the airplane that many call the first business jet. Though the 60 XR will most likely remain in production for years, it is the last evolutionary step possible under the rules.