Farnborough 2002 got off to a stylish start as Bombardier chose the eve of show to unveil two new additions to the Learjet family, the Learjet 40 and the Learjet 45XR.
Announcing the aircraft during Learjet's 40th anniversary year, Pierre Beaudoin, president and chief operating officer, Bombardier Aerospace, stressed the legend and mystique that surrounds the name.
"Announcing now in the midst of tough market conditions is a sign of the confidence we have in the products and in the response they will receive from the market," he says. "These aircraft will carry on Learjet's 40-year tradition of unparalleled performance and set new standards in jet-powered flights."
He was joined for the unveiling in London's exclusive Park Lane district by Bob Brown, president of Bombardier.
Both aircraft are derivatives of the Bombardier 45 Learjet and show the Canadian manufacturer's determination to capture the light jet market. Commonality between the three platforms means the two new aircraft can be certificated and into service quickly.
Beaudoin stresses that the development is relatively low-risk, given the platform similarities. Depending on the market interest, the new activity should mean additional jobs in Wichita where the aircraft are assembled; Toronto, where the wings are made; and at the fuselage-manufacturing base in Belfast.
With a price tag of $6.78 million (in 2002 prices) the Learjet 40 is scheduled for service in first quarter 2004. The aircraft will, predicts Peter Edwards, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft, ultimately replace the Learjet 31A as the entry point for light jet owners and become the cornerstone of the Learjet line up.
"The new aircraft are a logical addition to Bombardier's product line, offering greater speed and range than any competitive aircraft in their categories," says Edwards. "Moreover they offer owners and operators the added benefit of communality with the Learjet 45 in terms of aftermarket service and enhancements."
Operators with mixed fleets will also feel the benefit of lower fleet maintenance and the use of common flight crews.
The Learjet 45XR delivers a 1,000lb (454kg) payload advantage over the Learjet 45 and, powered by Honeywell turbofans, it gives significant time-to-climb capabilities particularly in hot-and-high conditions.
Source: Flight Daily News
