The Classic Lear Jet Foundation has surpassed 4,000 hours of volunteer work restoring Learjet serial number 23-003, the first production Learjet, toward a return to flight. The Wichita-based project is being conducted in the former Learjet delivery centre at Bombardier’s campus and was presented at the foundation’s NBAA-BACE booth. No completion date has been set.
The aircraft was acquired in August 2023 with support from major donors including aviation pioneer Clay Lacy. Since then, volunteers have undertaken wiring, dismantling, inspections and structural repairs, while specialist partners have assessed and restored components. The forward fuselage has undergone X-ray examination, and the horizontal stabiliser returned in late September from testing by Paragon NDT for structural cracks and corrosion.
The foundation originally intended to retain as much of the original structure as possible. Corrosion and the resulting cost and complexity, however, led the group to pursue a replacement wing. The remaining work includes further structural inspections, repairs and integration of replacement components, although the foundation has not provided a detailed schedule or cost estimate.
Additional volunteers are being recruited, with an expanded work schedule planned for 2027. The project’s scale reflects the technical and logistical demands of preserving an early business jet while maintaining the possibility of returning a historically significant airframe to service.