Was the Lear Jet the First VLJ?

FLYING Staff

Thursday, August 02, 2007 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Lear Jet 23 and Eclipse 500 share similar origins, both founded by entrepreneurs new to aviation who aimed to produce low-cost jets but faced significant delays and substantial price escalations from their ambitious initial targets.
Forty years of progress between these two jets is primarily evident in the Eclipse 500's vastly improved flying qualities, systems complexity, and expected safety, rather than an increase in speed. The Lear Jet 23 was known for its demanding characteristics and poor safety record.
Despite their initial cost overruns, both aircraft were introduced at remarkably low prices for their respective eras, with the Eclipse's current pricing still demonstrating a unique affordability compared to other modern business jets.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I received a letter from a reader after our story on the Cessna Mustang ran in the May issue asking me to compare the Mustang to the original Lear Jet 23, to measure 40 years of progress in light business jets. Interesting idea, and there is a valid comparison, but it’s not the Lear and and the Mustang. It’s between the Lear 23 and the Eclipse 500.

The reason the Mustang bears no relationship to the first Lear Jet is that the Mustang comes from the leader in business jets, not a start-up company. Cessna will soon deliver its 5,000th Citation, far more than any other business jet maker. The Mustang is an all-new design, but it is the product of the most experienced maker of light and medium-sized business jets in the world.