Fifty years ago, on Aug. 12, 1966, the Lear Jet 25 made its maiden flight in Wichita, Kansas. It was the last model to fly before Bill Lear, the inventor of ADF, the 8-track cassette and 150 other things, sold the company in the midst of a crushing recession to the Gates Rubber Co. Many Learjet models would follow through the years, including the iconic Lear 35 and 55, as the Learjet brand became a household name in the 1970s and 1980s — but the Lear 25 was the last of the original lineage.
Lear Jet: 50th Anniversary Milestone
Key Takeaways:
- The Lear Jet 25, which first flew in 1966, was the final model released before founder Bill Lear sold the company, concluding the original lineage of Lear's innovative personal jets.
- Bill Lear, a prolific inventor and founder of Motorola, revolutionized aviation by creating the high-performance Lear Jet series, starting with the groundbreaking Lear Jet 23 in 1963.
- The early success and widespread popularity of Learjets were significantly propelled by legendary pilot Clay Lacy and Hollywood actor Danny Kaye, who served as an early advocate and honorary VP, promoting the brand to the elite.
- Today, Learjet is owned by Bombardier, while early figures like Clay Lacy, now in his mid-80s, continue to fly Learjets, underscoring the brand's lasting impact.
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