At last month’s Farnborough Air Show, Bombardier Business Aircraft confirmed plans for two Learjet 45 follow-on models. At a preshow ceremony at a downtown London hotel on July 21, the company unveiled scale models of its new Learjet 40 and 45XR variants–the former a truncated (by 25.5 in.) six-seat version; the latter a same-size Model 45, but with a previously promised 1,000-lb increase in mtow; enhanced hot-and-high runway and climb performance; improved Universal UNS1-E FMS; new interior design and a $575,000 increase in price, to $10.42 million. Conventional Learjet 45s will remain part of the product line at the old price even after the 45XR and the smaller Model 40 come on line next year. Also, existing Learjet 45s may be upgraded to 45XR performance status via STCs and Service Bulletins for a cost of $400,000 (not including the new interior configuration).
Claude Chidiac, v-p of Learjet and Challenger product development for Bombardier Business Aircraft, told AIN the new variants are a result of the Canadian manufacturer “refreshing its product line.” With its $6.75 million price tag, the Learjet 40 takes square aim at Cessna’s $7.56 million Encore, but also crowds Bombardier’s own slow-selling Learjet 31A, which has the same number of seats and is priced only $170,000 less. Chidiac said the company regularly evaluates whether or not it will continue to produce the 31A, though he offered no timetable for making such a decision in light of the introduction of the 40, which is expected to make its first flight this quarter and receive FAA certification this time next year. The stand-up-cabin, six-to-10-passenger Learjet 60 tops the line at $12.46 million.
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