Gates Learjet announced the 50 series at the 1977 Paris air show as three aircraft, the 54, 55 and 56, and only the 55 ever reached production. First flight came on 19 April 1979, deliveries started in 1981, and 147 were built across the 55, 55B and 55C before the type gave way to the Learjet 60. This page covers the Learjet 55 specifications, history, variants and approved tire fitments.
Learjet 55 Specifications
Figures below are for the baseline Learjet 55, the highest-production variant. Differences for the 55B and 55C are noted in the variants section.
| Manufacturer | Gates Learjet, Wichita, Kansas. A Bombardier subsidiary from 1990 |
| Type | Midsize business jet |
| First flight | 19 April 1979 |
| Introduction | First production aircraft 18 March 1981. Deliveries from August 1981 |
| Production status | Out of production. 55 and 55B production ended 1987, with 55C deliveries running to about 1990 |
| Units built | 147 in total: 126 Model 55s, 8 Model 55Bs and 13 Model 55Cs |
| Engines | 2 x Garrett TFE731-3A-2B turbofan, 3,700 lb thrust each. TFE731-3AR on the 55C |
| Max range | 2,244nm maximum, 2,039nm normal. Approximately 2,165nm with four passengers and reserves |
| Cruise speed | Mach 0.76 typical long range cruise, 400 KTAS. Mach 0.81 Mmo |
| Max operating altitude | 51,000ft |
| Rate of climb | 4,000 ft/min initial |
| Takeoff distance | 5,600ft |
| Landing distance | 2,800ft |
| Max takeoff weight (MTOW) | 21,000 lb (9,525 kg) |
| Max landing weight | 18,000 lb |
| Empty weight | Approximately 12,857 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 6,707 lb |
| Cabin | 13ft 7in long, 5ft 9in wide, 5ft 7in high. 407 cu ft, plus 40 cu ft internal and 20 cu ft external baggage |
| Passenger capacity | 7 typical, up to 10 in high-density layouts |
| Crew | 2 pilots |
| Price (used) | Approximately $400,000 to $900,000 in 2026 depending on variant, hours and engine program status |
| Operating cost | Approximately $4,000 to $5,000 per hour all in at typical utilization |
Learjet 55 – History and Overview
Development and Background
The 50 series was Learjet answering a complaint it had heard for twenty years. Customers liked the speed and the climb and disliked the cabin, which on the 35 was a tube you entered on your hands. The answer was a new fuselage with half again the cross section of anything Learjet had built, mated to a wing the company already had certified.
Three aircraft were announced at Paris in 1977: the 11-seat 54, the 55 and the eight-seat 56. Only the 55 was built. Construction began in April 1978 after extensive work refining the NASA-developed winglets that gave the Longhorn family its name, and the first prototype flew on 19 April 1979.
The first production aircraft followed on 18 March 1981 and deliveries began that August. The Longhorn name was dropped in 1983, after which the type was marketed simply as the Gates Learjet 55.
Design and Performance
Five feet seven inches of cabin height still does not let anyone stand up, but it was a different aircraft from the 35 for the people sitting in it. 407 cu ft of cabin volume supports a proper galley, an aft lavatory and seven seats without the shoulder-to-shoulder compromise of the earlier narrow fuselage.
Performance held up against the cabin increase. The winglets and the Longhorn wing deliver 2,000nm-plus range at Mach 0.76, a 51,000ft ceiling and 4,000 ft/min of initial climb on two 3,700 lb thrust TFE731-3A-2Bs. Takeoff needs 5,600ft, which is the type weak point and the reason the 55B and 55C both targeted field performance.
Approach handling is the part pilots discuss. The wing is clean and the aircraft does not float, so a stabilized approach at the right speed matters more here than it does on softer-landing midsize types. Delta fins on the 55C improved both low-speed stability and runway numbers.
Variants
- Learjet 55 Longhorn: baseline production aircraft from 1981, with TFE731-3A-2B engines and a 21,000 lb gross weight. 126 built, making it the dominant variant in the fleet.
- Learjet 55B: 1986. Multi-tube EFIS flight deck, modified wing, improved takeoff performance and increased range. 8 built.
- Learjet 55C: 1987. Delta fins beneath the tailcone for stability and runway performance, with TFE731-3AR engines. 13 built.
- Learjet 55C/ER and 55C/LR: extended range and long range versions of the 55C. The LR adds a tailcone tank carrying a further 259 lb of fuel.
- Learjet 54 and 56: proposed 11-seat and 8-seat members of the 50 series. Neither was built.
Operators
Corporate flight departments and charter operators account for most of the fleet, in North America and Europe primarily. The type found a second life in air ambulance work, where the cabin cross section, the large door and the range make stretcher configurations practical in a way the Learjet 35 never quite managed.
Government and military use has been limited but real, with the type operated under the VU-55 designation in military service. By the late 1990s around 140 of the 147 built were still flying, which is an unusually high survival rate for a business jet of that age.
Current Status
Production ended in 1987 for the 55 and 55B, with the last 55Cs delivered around 1990. The Learjet 60 that replaced it in 1993 used a stretched 55C fuselage with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305 engines, so the 55 airframe lineage continued in service for another two decades. Bombardier closed the Learjet line entirely in 2021.
Parts availability is reasonable through Bombardier and the aftermarket, and the TFE731 is supported by Honeywell and multiple independent shops. The used market is thin and inexpensive, with asking prices generally between $400,000 and $900,000 and a recent high-time 1982 example listed at $595,000. Buying decisions on this type turn on engine program status and corrosion history rather than on list price.
Learjet 55 Landing Gear and Tires
Landing Gear Configuration
The 55 uses a hydraulically actuated retractable tricycle undercarriage with a single wheel at each position. The main legs retract inboard into the fuselage and the nose gear retracts forward. Multi-disc brakes with anti-skid provide the stopping, and the 2,800ft landing distance depends on the system being fully serviceable.
A full tyre shipset is three, so the consumable cost per cycle is low for a 21,000 lb aircraft. Main gear loading is the point to watch: the 55 carries 3,800 lb more maximum takeoff weight than a Learjet 31 on the same main tire size, which is precisely why the ply rating is different.
One tire-related airworthiness directive applies to the type. FAA AD 2001-07-11 covered Models 23 through 55, the 55, 55B and 55C included, and required a one-time visual inspection of Goodyear 178K23-5 main gear tires within a defined manufacturing serial range following reports of tread separation. Affected tires had to be replaced before further flight.
Learjet 55 Tire Specifications
| Main gear tire size | 17.5×5.75-8 |
| Main gear ply rating | 14PR, tubeless |
| Main gear speed rating | 210 mph |
| Nose wheel tire size | 18×4.4, dual deflector type |
| Nose wheel ply rating | 10PR, tubeless |
| Nose wheel speed rating | 210 mph |
| Wheels per position | One main wheel each side, one nose wheel. Three tires per shipset |
| Construction | Bias ply |
| Tire pressure | Refer to the Learjet 55 aircraft maintenance manual |
| Compatible brands | Goodyear, Michelin |
| Part numbers | Main: Goodyear 178K43-1. Nose: Goodyear 184F10-2, Michelin 031-613-8, 031-613-4, 027-613-0 |
Always verify tire size, ply rating and part number against the aircraft maintenance manual, the illustrated parts catalog and applicable airworthiness directives before ordering. Serial number, variant and installed modifications can affect tire requirements.
Main Gear Tires
Each main leg carries a single 17.5×5.75-8 at 14 ply, rated to 210 mph. Goodyear lists the Flight Eagle 178K43-1 against the Lear 55 and 60 in its application data, and it is the fitment to order by part number rather than by size.
The reason matters. The same 17.5×5.75-8 size exists at 12 ply for the Learjet 31, 35 and 36 and at 10 ply for the Embraer Legacy and Praetor nose position. A 12-ply tire fitted to a 21,000 lb Learjet 55 is under-rated for the load, and the three tires are visually indistinguishable once mounted. This is the single most likely ordering error on the type.
Nose Wheel Tire
The nose carries an 18×4.4 at 10 ply in dual deflector form, with the deflectors throwing water and slush outboard of the aft-mounted engine intakes. Goodyear 184F10-2, product code 301-336-340, is the fitment listed for the Learjet 20, 30, 50 and 60 series and the Citation I.
Plain rib 18×4.4 tires in the same ply rating exist for Cessna and Beechcraft applications, so confirm the deflector configuration against the parts catalog rather than matching on size alone. Michelin 031-613-8 is the double chine alternative in this size.
Approved and Compatible Brands
The following tires are listed in the correct sizes and ply ratings for the Learjet 55, 55B and 55C:
- Goodyear Flight Eagle 178K43-1: 17.5×5.75-8, 14PR, 210 mph, main gear. Listed by Goodyear for the Lear 55 and 60
- Goodyear Rib 184F10-2: 18×4.4, 10PR, 210 mph, nose gear. Product code 301-336-340
- Michelin Air 031-613-8: 18×4.4, 10PR, 210 mph, double chine, nose gear. Confirm applicability against the IPC
- Michelin 031-613-4: 18×4.4, nose gear. Listed as a cross reference to 184F10-2 in the same size and rating group
- Michelin Air 027-613-0: 18×4.4, nose gear. Listed as a cross reference to 184F10-2 in the same size and rating group
- Goodyear 184F03-2: 18×4.4, nose gear. Listed as a cross reference to 184F10-2 in the same size and rating group
No Michelin cross reference is currently listed in 17.5×5.75-8 at 14 ply, so the Goodyear 178K43-1 is the main gear option for this type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Learjet 55 still in production?
No. The 55 and 55B ended production in 1987 and the last 55Cs were delivered around 1990, with the Learjet 60 replacing the type in 1993. Bombardier closed the Learjet line entirely in 2021. Tires, wheels, brakes and TFE731 engine support all remain readily available through the aftermarket.
What are the Learjet 55 specifications?
Two Garrett TFE731-3A-2B turbofans of 3,700 lb thrust each, 21,000 lb maximum takeoff weight, a 51,000ft certified ceiling and seven seats in a 407 cu ft cabin behind a crew of two. The full table above lists weights, dimensions and field performance.
What is the range of the Learjet 55?
Maximum range is approximately 2,244nm, with 2,039nm normal range and around 2,165nm achievable with four passengers and full reserves. The 55C/ER and 55C/LR carry additional fuel, the LR adding a tailcone tank with a further 259 lb.
What is the difference between the Learjet 55, 55B and 55C?
The 55B of 1986 added a multi-tube EFIS flight deck, a modified wing, better takeoff performance and more range, and 8 were built. The 55C of 1987 added delta fins beneath the tailcone for stability and runway performance along with TFE731-3AR engines, and 13 were built. The baseline 55 accounts for 126 of the 147 airframes.
What is the Learjet 55 price?
Used asking prices in 2026 generally run between $400,000 and $900,000, with a recent high-time 1982 example listed at $595,000. The 55B and 55C command a premium over the baseline aircraft. Engine program enrollment affects valuation more than airframe hours do.
What does the Learjet 55 cost to operate per hour?
All-in costs run approximately $4,000 to $5,000 per hour at typical utilization, covering fuel, maintenance reserves, engine reserves, crew, insurance and hangarage. Fuel burn is the dominant variable, and the figure moves significantly with annual hours flown, since fixed costs are spread across them.
Where can I find a Learjet 55 for sale?
Listings appear on Controller, GlobalAir, Trade-A-Plane and AircraftExchange, though inventory is usually in low single figures. Given airframe age, a pre-purchase inspection focused on corrosion, landing gear overhaul status and engine hot section condition is the sensible priority.
What interior options does the Learjet 55 offer?
Standard configurations seat seven in a double club or a club-plus-divan layout, with a forward galley and an aft lavatory within a 407 cu ft cabin. High-density layouts take up to ten. Air ambulance conversions are common and use the cabin width and door size to carry a stretcher installation with attending medical crew.
What is the Learjet 55 landing distance?
Published landing distance is approximately 2,800ft, against a takeoff distance of 5,600ft. Takeoff is the limiting case on this type rather than landing, which is why both the 55B and the 55C targeted field performance improvements. Figures vary with weight, altitude and temperature.
What tire size does the Learjet 55 use?
Main gear tires are 17.5×5.75-8 at 14 ply, one per leg, and the nose carries an 18×4.4 at 10 ply in dual deflector form. Three tires make a full shipset. The 14 ply rating is specific to the 55 and 60, so verify the part number against the maintenance manual and parts catalog before ordering.
Which tire brands are approved for the Learjet 55?
Goodyear covers both positions, with the Flight Eagle 178K43-1 on the main gear and the 184F10-2 on the nose. Michelin offers several cross-referenced options for the nose position in 18×4.4, but no Michelin equivalent is currently listed in 17.5×5.75-8 at 14 ply.
How much do Learjet 55 tires cost?
Pricing varies by brand, construction and quantity. The 14-ply main gear tire carries a premium over the 12-ply version used on the Learjet 31 and 35, and nose tires in 18×4.4 sit lower again. With only three tires per shipset the Learjet 55 is relatively cheap to keep in rubber for a midsize jet. Current pricing is shown on the product listings linked above.
What is the tire pressure for the Learjet 55?
Inflation pressures are published in the Learjet 55 aircraft maintenance manual rather than in public documents, and they differ between the nose and main positions. Check them cold and verify the correct values for your serial number before servicing.
How long do Learjet 55 tires last?
Main gear tires on midsize jets typically give 100 to 300 landings depending on runway surface, landing weight and braking technique, with the nose tire usually lasting longer. At 21,000 lb on two main tires, loading is at the upper end of what this size carries, so expect the shorter end of that band on short-sector operations.
How often should Learjet 55 tires be changed?
Replacement is driven by tread wear indicators, cuts, flat spots, cord exposure, cycle counts and calendar limits rather than a fixed interval. Firm arrivals and heavy braking shorten tread life on this type noticeably. A licensed engineer working from the maintenance manual makes the final call.
