Learjet 36

The Learjet 36 is the new and improved version of the Lear 35. The 35’s boasting rights came from its range, and the Lear 36 only expanded on that asset. It can fly 1,530 miles (1,330 nautical miles) nonstop. That means direct flights from San Francisco to Honolulu. Good handling characteristics, low fuel burn, and fast cruise speeds are part of the Lear 36’s assets as well.

A maximum of six passengers can travel in the Lear 36’s cabin. It is 12.9 feet long, 4.9 feet wide, and 4.4 feet high. There are 40 cubic feet of baggage space, enough to hold about eight standard-sized suitcases.

The real strength of the Learjet 36 is its range, takeoff, and cruise capabilities. Two Honeywell TFE731-2-2B engines provide 3,500 pounds of thrust, allowing the Lear 36 to take off in 4,972 feet. The maximum take off weight is pretty high as well at 18,300 pounds.

Components of the TFE731-2-2B engines are used in much higher-performing jets as well. Their pressure compressors were taken from the Garret 660-series engine, which is used on 747s. Their turbine components come from DC-10s, and the high-pressure impellers are a modified version of the one used in the TPE 331 and T76 engines.

The Learjet 36 is has a relatively long range for a private jet, and can cruise at speeds as high as 451 ktas, or 424 ktas with four passengers. Fuel consumption is excellent: the 31A burns only 177 pounds of fuel per hour. For comparison’s sake, that’s 14 pounds fewer than the Hawker 400XP and 64 pounds fewer than the Citation VI.

A few other details make the Lear 36 a popular private jet. First of all, it meets FAR part 36 noise standards, making it a kind of “good neighbor” at airports. Furthermore, the avionics system is completely redesigned from previous models, giving pilots an uncluttered control panel that is easy to work with. Pilots have also commented on its agility and excellent performance capabilities.

The Learjet 36 is a high-performing business jet that meets the standards of excellence of a private jet in the Lear series. It is rare to find private jets that can fly as fast, as far, or as economically as the Lear 36.