[youtube]http://youtu.be/br6FOSf8apc[/youtube]

Haha..
"Easy inside access to carry-on luggage".
"24 inch Executive door".

Marketing at its finest (Call it a feature).

Lears are indeed super cool.

Gotta love the Medivac marketing

20 odd years ago I was the Chief Pilot of a Singapore based international Medivac operation using a Falcon 200.

From time to time we also utilised a Lear 35 if a second mission came up while the Falcon was busy with the first.

Our chief Dr once told me the difference between the Falcon, which had everything a Dr could want on dual life port systems as well as a galley and enclosed toilet/vanity (important in SE Asia in the middle of the night), was that when he flew in the Lear all they had was a stretcher and an ice box full of drugs/portable O2.

The Falcon literally had everything you'd find in a well equiped hospital emergency ward - we even could do, and did, neonatal rescue missions with premature babies. Came close a couple of times to delivery on board of very premature babies.

"If a patient has a heart attack in the Lear I just have to hope they don't suffer too long - I cant get over them to do anything about it."

Of course Learjets in medivac operations are common...but its got nothing to do with the best interests of the patient.

The Model 35 shown towards the end of the film was s/n 35-001 the first 35. The N-number N731GA was for the new engines, Garrett Airesearch TFE 731s. Much later it was modified and became the prototype for the Model 31.

I worked at Gates Learjet from 1976 to 1981 in the experimental flight test department as a data reduction technician. I flew countlesss flights in the cabin of 35-001 filming video data of airflow tuft studies for both high mach (0.90) and low speed aerodynamics testing.

During the time I was at Learjet I was part of the Century III wing leading edge modification, the 51000 ft. certification, and certification of thrust reversers on the 731s. I was also there for the introduction of the Model 28/29 and the Model 55, (at that time it was the 54/55/56).

35-001 was retired in 2001 and is now "on a stick" at the Wichita factory.

The tail number caught my eye as well. N731GA is still on a Lear 31 - s/n 24. It’s with an air ambulance operator at our airport. Really enjoyed all my flying in the 20 and 30 series. Nothing quite like a lightly loaded 20 series! What a hoot!

My back still aches...

Neat film.

I sure do miss the performance of a lightly loaded 24!

That brought back some fond memories.

What a cool video. I'm sold, after all they are SO cheap to operate. I'm sure I could afford to run one quite easily if Jet-A was still only $0.50 / gallon like it was back then.

After watching the other Lear video YouTube suggested this one:

[youtube]https://youtu.be/sOiJRO24weM[/youtube]

For you Lear fans, it's another good one.

It was a real privilege and treat to be able to experience that little rocket. I knew it at the time and I still miss it today.

I will second the thrill of departing with a lightly loaded 24 or 25 on a cold day. That little sucker would GO. Having the chance to fly these old Lears is a highlight of my flying.

bombardier missed a big opportunity by not redeveloping the 31a into a single pilot derivative. that airplane was very pilot friendly and could have easily been flown single pilot.

The early short ones always make me think of Sinatra and Elvis.

One window.

Talk about a private jet...

He loaned it to Elvis to get married to Priscilla, right?

Lightly loaded 20 series

Yep; we often just had two of us in "my" 24 below, a real rocket ship.

I got my type rating in a 23, serial number 7, no sims available, all in the plane. I had come from flying 402's, and in my first takeoff in the 23 , I had never been so far behind an airplane in my life. In fact after the first flight, my instructor said that if we would have crashed I wouldn't have been hurt because I was so far behind the airplane.

To Jeff's comment about loading baggage, I doubt there is a worse airplane for that. And the 36 inch door was the one to have, but should be operated by someone trained in it's operation, lest they tumble out onto the ramp when opening it from inside. The trick is don't be standing on the lower clamshell when you release it.

Yes, and Frank Sinatra's mother was killed in a Lear Jet 24 operated by Jet Avia when it took off out of Palm Springs and flew straight into Mt. San Gorgonio taking her to Las Vegas for one of Frank's shows.