The -23 was not bad and neither was the Citation but then the Citation was flying about 90kts slower than the -23. Our Vmo was 358 if I remember correctly. Later Lears were limited to 306. Story was the -23 did not do the bird proof testing and later Lears did. Problem was that the birds started coming apart at 306 and so the limit was not on the Lear windshield but on the Max V for birds. Don't know if it is true or not but makes for a good story.

Both airplanes were noisy when you turned on the windshield bleed.

THE noisiest cockpit was the Boeing cockpit which is the same on the 707/727/737. I always used ear plugs above 250kts and on our 727s you could do over 400 indicated in the A mode but you were using hand signals to communicate or yelling very loudly.

I think the quietest cockpit I was in was the MD-80s. Lots of white noise but very quiet compared to the earlier Boeings.

All cockpits are much better with the ANR headsets.

Oh, and I just remembered.. THE NOISIEST cockpit I ever was in was a C-123K. 2 big recips right by the cockpit AND two jet engines. How any of those guys are not without hearing aids now is a miracle.

Flew the 35 (C-21) for a while in Germany. Interesting what was said about having to go full yoke foreward after an engine failure on the runway. The placement of the engines in the Lear are above the waterline, so a reduction in thrust will cause a pitch-up. Don't remember having to go full foreward on V1 cuts (always held some foreward pressure until rotate anyways), but the fact that the aircraft would flare for you as you pulled power either made for nice landings or PIOs when guys over controlled. The only thing that could be considered dangerous about the airplane was the fuel system. It was easy to find yourself with a significant imbalance in the tip tanks very quickly while crossfeeding (typically during engine-out work). We managed to kill a few crewmembers that way.

Lear Jet models 23/24/25. I’ve flown all three. Don’t remember too much about the V1 cuts. They all had autopilots, somewhat crude though. Could climb performance, 6000fpm with fuel and pax.. The 23 we had was limited to FL 41.0, the 24 had a FL 45.0 limit and the 25 had the FL 51.0 limit. It was a challenge to hand fly them at those altitudes. I spent about 2 ½ hours hand flying one at FL 45.0. You have to be real smooth to do it. We had the 25 up to FL 50.0 one day. At FL 45.0 and above you can really see the curvature of the earth.

The 25 had a flight director and the 23/24 had HSI’s

The avionics package is somewhat different in each of the Lear 35's.
Most of the 35's have the standard stuff I would think: FD, HSI, Dual VOR/LOC, DME and ADF.
All the 35's I have flown have a GPS, mostly Trimble, but some Garmin and the KNS90. Off course most of these units have been located a little different in each airplane.

These are off course all cargo airplanes. I would dare to say MOST corporate 35's would have FMS, TCAS and GPWS.

I have flown a 35 with a navigation system were you make adjustment for Magnetic variation. Need for navigation close to the North/South pole.

Some 35's have a retro fitted higher take off/landing weight kit. With it comes a Vmo/Mmo select button. It limits you speed at certain weights.

I'm sure there are more that I can't think of at the moment.

The Lear I have flown have been spread over somewhat a wide range of serial numbers so that makes it more fun:rolleyes:. Differences in the electrical system, cabin system, Alcohol anti-ice system, emergency battery system.
And off course they may or may not have been retro fitted with a kit that fixes some of the earlier serial number design features.

It's kind of amazing that the FAA allows you with a LR-JET type rating to fly the 20, 30 series and the Lear 55.
I have some experience with the 24's and while it had many similarities with the 35's it was also very different. It too off course had different models.
For example the 35's will disengage the starter for you (hopefully) but in the 24's you had to do that. Some of the 24's had a electrical wing and stab anti-ice system while 35's use bleed air.

It's the only Jet I have flown so far. I think at some point in my life I will look back on my time in the Lear with a massive amount of Nostalgia.

Hopefully not too far off course!

That is funny! I didn't see it until you pointed it out. Thank you for POINTING IT OUT!