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A Learjet 36A operated by Global Jetcare, photo from FacebookThe Classic Lear Jet Foundation is supporting an Around the World Speed Record attempt to raise funds to restore the first-ever production Lear Jet 23 delivered to a customer. With air ambulance operator Global Jetcare, the foundation is planning a record-setting flight in a Learjet 36, recreating a journey completed 100 years ago.
On April 6, 1924 eight U.S. Army Air Service pilots made the ambitious trip around the globe in four modified DT-2 torpedo bombers, heading west from Seattle, Washington and completing the journey 175 days later, according to Pioneers of Flight. The pilots completed the trip on Sept. 28 after making 74 stops and covering roughly 27,550 miles. For the centennial celebration, Bart Gray from Global Jetcare, John Bone a Flight Instructor/Adventure Pilot and Joel Weber from the Classic Lear Jet Foundation will fly in a modified Lear 36, operated by Global Jetcare.
The fundraising flight will take off from the Dwight D Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) in Wichita, Kansas on April 4, with the next two planned landings in Salinas, California (SNS) and the landing again on April 4 in Kailua/Kona, Hawaii (HKO). The plane will continue west, making stops across the world including in Thailand, Pakistan, Egypt and Italy. The trip is expected to land back in Wichita on April 6, where the Learjet 23 was originally built in 1964.
According to Aviation Week, Gray was inspired to make the trip after reading a book describing the first successful around-the-world flight in 1924. The trip is expected to take 54 hours from start to finish, with stops limited to about 30 minutes. Gray told Aviation Week that the Learjet 36A has been modified with a bed so two pilots can sleep while the other flies.
"I'm just excited to be doing it," Gray said to Aviation Week. "I have flown this airplane almost everywhere in the world. I'm very familiar with it. But I've never done a flight like this."RELATED STORY:Foundation aims to restore first-ever production Learjet 23 delivered to flying condition
The Classic Lear Jet Foundation is made up of current, former and retired employees who admire the plane and company, coming together to form a foundation to restore the Learjet 23, serial number 23-003. The goal is to restore the plane to flying condition in honor of the plane, company and founder that inspired so many. The success of the 23 led to other designs for the company which were integral in for budding BizAv industry. The model inspired other jets like the Model 24, which flew around the world and broke 18 international aviation records.
The first model was introduced in 1964 and production ended in 1966 after 101 had been delivered. By 1998, only 39 models were estimated to still be in use. There were 27 that were lost or damaged beyond repair through accidents. Learjet was acquired by Bombardier in 1990 and the final Learjet 75 Liberty was delivered in March 2022. The end of the Learjet era allowed Bombardier to shift focus to other lines like the Global or Challenger series.
The disassembly of the 23 began earlier in January. The team focused on the nose, removing the avionics and 02/nitrogen bottles for inspection and to be taken into storage. The horizontal stabilizer was brought out of storage and reunited with 23-003. All money raised from the centennial flight fundraiser will go toward restoring the Learjet 23.