The first Learjet flew all the way back in 1963. American inventor Bill Lear rolled out designs for the jet, based on a proposed Swiss fighter plane, shortly after forming the Swiss American Aviation Corporation in the early 1960s. The Learjet 23 was produced for only four years, but some of the 104 planes are still in the air today. As the Learjet introduced mass production of the private jet, new and improved models were developed, including the Learjet 35/36 series. The eight-seat Learjet 35/36 increased power while reducing engine noise, and was in production for 20 years.
