Learjet Bombardier Learjet 24

Twin Jet· 37 globally registered

The Learjet 24 is the aircraft that made Bill Lear's name synonymous with fast, glamorous business aviation. Introduced in 1966 as a stretched, more powerful evolution of the pioneering Learjet 23, the Model 24 seated six to eight passengers and could cruise at 465 knots (faster than many military jets of the era) while climbing to 45,000 feet in under ten minutes. Powered by twin General Electric CJ610 turbojets (the civilian version of the J85 that powered the T-38 Talon and F-5 Tiger), the 24 became the quintessential executive jet of the late 1960s and early 1970s, flown by corporations, air ambulance operators, and a few air forces. Its needle nose, tip tanks, and steep approach profile made it instantly recognizable on any ramp. Learjet built 259 examples of the Model 24 between 1966 and 1977, including the 24A through 24F variants with progressively refined systems and slightly higher weights. The type earned a reputation for blistering speed and a demanding flight deck: early Learjets had no flight director, primitive autopilots, and required pilots to stay ahead of an aircraft that accelerated and descended like a dart. The 24's range was modest at around 1,500 nautical miles, but for city-pair missions across the continental United States it was unmatched in speed and style. Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, and a host of Fortune 500 CEOs flew in Learjet 24s during the type's heyday. Today the Learjet 24 is a rare sight, with most examples retired or preserved in museums, though a handful remain active in private hands and with specialty operators. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.