Home / Photos / Flashback to 1981 Photos Flashback to 1981 By June 24, 2006 "Torch" Lewis and the Lear Fan One of the autoclaves used to cure the Lear Fan’s carbon fiber fuselage. The Lear Fan cockpit under construction. Avionics were state of the art for the day. Composite construction and distinctive configuration set the Lear Fan apart. It was the gearbox that proved to be the Lear Fan’s Achille’s heel. They never got it right. A brace of turboprops driving a single pusher propeller was the concept. Pratt & Whitney provided the ‘reliable engines,’ all right, but the configuration never worked out successfully. More From Photos A Fond Memory: Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo 2023 Gallery: The Evolution of Van's Aircraft Gallery: Tails on Display at Oshkosh Gallery: Wednesday at Oshkosh Photos: <i>FLYING</i> Honors Award Winners at Adventure Party First Look: Supernal's Air Taxi Passenger Cabin