Dates

Event

Constructed as a Learfan 2100.
The LearAvia Lear Fan 2100 turboprop was made of lightweight composite materials instead of the more usual aluminum alloy. It also featured an innovative pusher design, in which two aircraft engines powered a single constant-speed three- or four-bladed propeller at the rear of the aircraft. A purpose-built gearbox allowed either or both Pratt amp;amp; Whitney of Canada PT6B free-shaft turbines to supply power via two driveshafts. The intent of the design was to provide the safety of multi-engine reliability, combined with single-engine handling in case of failure of one of the engines.Only 3 were builtThis was Bill Lears final project. When Lear died before his marvel of aviation technology became a reality, his widow, Moya, and Lears employees honored his final wish to finish and fly the airplane. Only three Lear Fans were made, but the knowledge gained in composite technology has revolutionized the field of aviation. The Museums model, the prototype, made its maiden flight in January of 1981. As a testament to the efforts to complete the aircraft by its 1980 deadline, the British government, which helped fund the project, declared the Lear Fans first flight date December 32, 1980. Envelopes carried aboard on the flight were cancelled with this same date, and the U.S. Post Office honored the cancellation.

To unknown owner with c/r N626BL.

To Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle, WA.
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17 September 1982

Photographer: Nick Taylor
Notes: Flight demonstration during the 1982 Reno National Championship Air races

17 September 1982

Photographer: Nick Taylor
Notes: Taxiing back after flying during the 1982 Reno National Championship Air races

29 June 2012

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: 2012 photo in the Great Gallery at the Museum of Flight in Seattle