The Learjet 45 broke that lineage as the brand’s first clean-sheet design, pairing light-jet operating costs with midsize speed and cabin comfort.
More than 450 were built between 1998 and 2012, and the type remains a fixture in charter fleets, corporate flight departments, and fractional programs worldwide.
This page covers the Learjet 45’s specifications, history, and approved tire fitments for its main and nose landing gear.
Learjet 45 Specifications
Figures below reflect the Learjet 45XR, the definitive production standard; differences from the original Model 45 are noted.
| Manufacturer | Learjet, a Bombardier Aerospace division (Wichita, Kansas) |
| Type | Super-light / midsize business jet |
| First flight | October 7, 1995, the 32nd anniversary of the original Learjet 23’s first flight |
| Certification | FAA type certificate September 22, 1997; the first Learjet certified under FAR Part 25 |
| Production status | Out of production; Model 45 ended 2007, Model 45XR ended 2012 |
| Units built | ~450 Learjet 45/45XRs (serials 45-002 through 45-455) |
| Engine(s) | 2x Honeywell TFE731-20BR turbofan, 3,500 lb thrust each (TFE731-20 on the original Model 45) |
| Max range | 1,971nm (3,650km), four passengers, NBAA IFR reserves |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.81 / 465 KTAS high-speed cruise |
| Max operating altitude | 51,000ft |
| Takeoff distance | 4,400-5,040ft balanced field at sea level ISA, depending on equipped weight |
| Landing distance | 2,660ft at max landing weight, sea level ISA |
| Max takeoff weight (MTOW) | 21,500 lb (9,752 kg) for the 45XR; 20,500 lb for the Model 45 |
| Passenger capacity | 8 typical / 9 max |
| Crew | 2 pilots; not approved for single-pilot operation |
| Price (used) | ~$1.5-$5 million depending on year, hours, and upgrade status (2018 reference) |
| Operating cost | ~$2,500-$3,000/hr total variable at typical utilization; fuel burn runs around 200 gph |
History and Overview
Development and Background
Bombardier acquired Learjet in 1990 and set out to make the brand competitive against newer designs, chiefly the Cessna Citation Excel. Work on the Model 45 began in 1989, and the program was unveiled at the NBAA convention in September 1992 as the first all-new Learjet since the Model 23.
The program spread across the Bombardier group: Short Brothers built the fuselage and empennage in Belfast, de Havilland Canada built the wings in Toronto, and Learjet handled final assembly and certification in Wichita. It was also among the first business jets designed entirely with computer-aided engineering. The prototype flew on October 7, 1995, thirty-two years to the day after the Learjet 23’s first flight, and FAA certification followed in September 1997 with first delivery in mid-1998.
Early service was rocky; recurring electrical and pressurization squawks culminated in a month-long FAA grounding of the fleet in August 2003 over a defective horizontal stabilizer fastener. Bombardier fixed the fleet, and the type’s reliability reputation recovered through the 2000s.
Design and Performance
The Learjet 45 was designed around its cabin: a flat floor and non-circular fuselage cross-section gave more head and shoulder room than any previous Learjet, with a double-club eight-seat layout, an enclosed lavatory usable as a ninth seat, and 50 cubic feet of external baggage.
The 13-degree swept wing carries a supercritical airfoil optimized for Mach 0.78 cruise, with winglets and delta fins. Pilots fly a four-screen Honeywell Primus 1000 flight deck, and an onboard APU, rare in the class, provides ground power and cabin conditioning without running the engines.
The original TFE731-20 engines struggled in hot-and-high conditions, a weakness the 45XR’s -20BR engines resolved by holding their full 3,500 lb rating up to 104°F. AOPA’s operator survey notes typical landing performance near 3,500ft, with 51,000ft certified ceiling and classic Learjet climb rates.
Variants
- Learjet 45 — The original 1998 production model with TFE731-20 engines and a 20,500 lb MTOW; production ended in 2007.
- Learjet 45XR — Certified June 2004 with TFE731-20BR engines, a 21,500 lb MTOW, faster cruise, and stronger hot-and-high performance; built through 2012. Original 45s can be upgraded to XR standard, and most have been.
- Learjet 40 / 40XR — A fuselage-shortened derivative introduced in 2003-2004, seating up to seven with otherwise similar systems.
- Learjet 75 — The 2013 successor: a 45XR airframe with TFE731-40BR engines, new winglets, and Garmin G5000 avionics. The last Learjet 75 delivery in March 2022 closed out Learjet production entirely.
Operators
Flexjet built a substantial fractional fleet of Learjet 45s, and charter operators across North America, Europe, and Latin America still fly the type in numbers. Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific used Learjet 45s for airline crew training in Adelaide, and government operators have included the Irish Air Corps and the Mexican Air Force. Around 71 percent of 45XRs are based in North America.
Current Status
Production ended in 2012, and Bombardier shut the entire Learjet line in 2022, but the installed fleet remains large and actively supported. The used market is one of the most liquid in the midsize segment, with values running from roughly $1.5 million for early Model 45s to around $5 million for late 45XRs. Tires, parts, and engine support for the TFE731 remain widely available, so operators face no near-term sustainment cliff.
Learjet 45 Landing Gear and Tires
Landing Gear Configuration
The Learjet 45 uses a retractable tricycle undercarriage with trailing-link, twin-wheel main gear retracting inward and a single-wheel nose gear retracting forward. Braking is carbon multi-disc with brake-by-wire anti-skid, and the nose gear uses digital steer-by-wire for tight ramp turns. The nose position carries a dual-chine tyre that deflects runway spray away from the rear-mounted engines; a full shipset is just three tires.
Learjet 45 Tire Specifications
| Nose wheel tire size | 18×4.4, dual chine (dual deflector type) |
| Main gear tire size | 22×5.75-12, tubeless |
| Ply rating | 10PR nose / 10PR main |
| Speed rating | 210 mph nose / 190 mph main |
| Tire pressure (typical) | Verify inflation pressures against the Learjet 45 Airworthiness Maintenance Manual for your serial number |
| Compatible brands | Goodyear and Michelin (Goodyear application data); confirm approved alternatives against the AMM and IPC |
| Part numbers | Goodyear 226K08-4 (main, Flight Eagle); Michelin 031-613-8 (nose, Air, dual chine) |
Always verify tire specifications against the aircraft’s Airworthiness Maintenance Manual (AMM) and applicable airworthiness directives before ordering. Serial number and configuration can affect tire requirements.
Main Gear Tires
Each main strut carries two 22×5.75-12 tires at 10 ply, rated to 190 mph, a size the Learjet 45 shares with the Learjet 40/70/75, Citation III/VI/VII, and Falcon 10. Goodyear’s Flight Eagle 226K08-4 is the established fitment. Michelin builds the 026-520-0 Air in the same size for the Citation 650 series and Falcon 10; confirm Learjet 45 applicability against the AMM and parts catalog before installing it.
Nose Wheel Tire
The single nose position takes an 18×4.4 dual-chine tire at 10 ply, rated to 210 mph, with the chines throwing water and slush outboard of the aft-mounted engine inlets. Michelin’s Air 031-613-8 is the dual-chine fitment listed for the Learjet 40 and 45, a part it shares with much of the Citation line.
Approved Tire Options
Tires for the Learjet 45 are available from the following approved manufacturers:
- Goodyear Flight Eagle — 226K08-4 — main gear
- Michelin Air — 031-613-8 — nose gear (dual chine)
- Michelin Air — 026-520-0 — 22×5.75-12 main size; confirm Learjet 45 applicability against the AMM
FAQs
Is the Learjet 45 still in production?
No. The Model 45 ended production in 2007 and the 45XR in 2012, and Bombardier closed the entire Learjet line in 2022. Several hundred remain in service, and tires, parts, and engine support are still widely available.
What are the Learjet 45 specifications?
Key figures for the 45XR: 1,971nm range, Mach 0.81 cruise, 51,000ft ceiling, 21,500 lb MTOW, two Honeywell TFE731-20BR engines, and eight passengers. The full specs table above carries the complete data set.
What is the range of the Learjet 45?
1,971nm (3,650km) with four passengers under NBAA IFR reserve conditions for the 45XR. With eight passengers, plan on roughly 1,700-1,900nm depending on winds and routing.
What is the Learjet 45 price?
The type is out of production, so all sales are pre-owned. Values run from roughly $1.5 million for early Model 45s to around $5 million for late-build 45XRs, driven by hours, engine program status, and avionics upgrades.
What does the Learjet 45 cost to operate per hour?
Total variable costs typically run $2,500-$3,000 per hour, with fuel burn around 200 gallons per hour. Actual costs vary with utilization, engine program enrollment, and region.
Where can I find a Learjet 45 for sale?
The Learjet 45 is one of the most actively traded midsize jets; listings appear consistently on Controller, Trade-A-Plane, JetNet, and AVPRO, often with dozens of aircraft on the market at once.
What interior options does the Learjet 45 offer?
The flat-floor cabin seats eight in a double-club layout, with an enclosed aft lavatory certified as a ninth seat, a forward galley, and 15 cubic feet of internal plus 50 cubic feet of external baggage. Many aircraft have been refitted with Wi-Fi and updated cabin management systems.
What is the Learjet 45 landing distance?
2,660ft at maximum landing weight, sea level, ISA conditions. Operators report the type comfortably uses 3,500ft strips in day-to-day service, though takeoff at high weights needs 4,400ft or more.
What tire size does the Learjet 45 use?
The main gear takes 22×5.75-12 10PR tires and the nose gear takes an 18×4.4 10PR dual-chine tire. Always verify against the AMM for your serial number and configuration.
Which tire brands are approved for the Learjet 45?
Goodyear supplies the Flight Eagle 226K08-4 for the main gear and Michelin the Air 031-613-8 dual-chine tire for the nose. Confirm any alternative against the AMM and the illustrated parts catalog before installation.
How much do Learjet 45 tires cost?
Pricing varies by position, construction, and quantity. With only three tires per shipset and a widely shared main gear size, the Learjet 45 is among the cheaper midsize jets to keep in rubber; request current quotes from an authorized distributor.
What is the tire pressure for the Learjet 45?
Inflation pressures are published in the Learjet 45 AMM rather than in public documents. Verify the correct values there for your serial number before servicing.
How long do Learjet 45 tires last?
Main gear tires on jets in this category typically deliver 100-300 landings depending on runway surface, landing weight, and braking technique, with the nose tire often lasting longer. The AMM and the operator’s maintenance program set the specific limits.
How often should Learjet 45 tires be changed?
Replacement is driven by tread wear indicators, cuts and flat spots, cycle counts, and calendar limits rather than a fixed interval. A licensed engineer working from the AMM makes the final call.
