IATA LRJICAO LJ35

Learjet 35

Learjet

TravelerPulse profile

Iconic American light business jet with global reach.

First flight

1973

Category

Light business jet

Seating

6–8 passengers

Range

3,980 km

Engines

Two Garrett (Honeywell) TFE731-2-2B turbofan engines

Status

In service

The Learjet 35 is a twin-engine light business jet developed by Learjet Inc. and first flown in 1973. It was designed as a stretched, more powerful variant of the Learjet 25, featuring Garrett TFE731 turbofan engines that significantly improved fuel efficiency and range compared to earlier Learjet models. Capable of carrying up to eight passengers, the Learjet 35 became one of the most popular business jets of its era and found widespread use in corporate aviation, air charter, air ambulance, and military roles. A stretched variant, the Learjet 36, was developed alongside it, optimized for longer range with reduced passenger capacity. Production ran from 1974 until the early 1990s, with hundreds of airframes delivered worldwide. Many examples remain in active service today in charter, medevac, and special mission roles. The type is operated globally and has proven durable and reliable over decades of service.

Notable operators

Widely operated by charter companies, air ambulance operators, and military users including the U.S. Air Force (C-21A variant); no major commercial airlines operate it as a primary fleet type.

Notable facts

›The military C-21A variant was operated by the U.S. Air Force for priority cargo and passenger transport.
›The Learjet 35 was the first Learjet to use the fuel-efficient Garrett TFE731 turbofan engine.
›A stretched range variant, the Learjet 36, was produced concurrently with reduced seating for extended missions.
›The aircraft can cruise at altitudes up to 45,000 feet.
›Over 700 Learjet 35 and 36 airframes were produced during the production run.