Expanding our Facilities, Accelerating Progress

October 7, 2011

With product development activities transitioning from detail design to the build, test and validate phase, the Learjet 85 is moving towards its scheduled entry-into-service in 2013. This innovative aircraft is progressing at an accelerated pace.

Wichita Final Line facility crosses the finish line

The excitement continues to build as we actively prepare for final assembly of the Learjet 85 business jet. On July 21, 2011, the Learjet Facility in Wichita was issued a Certificate of Occupancy for the final assembly line expansion of Building #2, a significant milestone for this program. Currently, major tooling is being installed in the Wichita plant, including lifting tools to unload major structural articles such as the fuselage, wing and horizontal stabilizer, overhead mechanical equipment, as well as the wing and fuselage dollies.

Building the Bombardier way at Querétaro

As with every Bombardier built aircraft, the Learjet 85 is being manufactured to the Bombardier tradition of innovation and excellence. The Querétaro facility recently completed the first ever one-piece composite barrel manufactured to Part 25 standard using hand lay-up technology.

Summer 2011 has been extremely active at the Querétaro facility. In June, the site received its Destructive Test Lab accreditation, making us confident that our Non Destructive Test (NDT) expertise is up to the challenge of meeting our ongoing certification activities. In the same month, the full fuselage was assembled from demonstration sections to validate our tooling and assembly methodology. The Querétaro team has successfully joined 4 four key fuselage sections using Destructive Test components for the Nose, Pressure vessel, Aft Fuselage and Tail Cone. The development painting test was also completed on this unit to validate the smoothness and finish of the airplane. To meet our production rate, an advanced technology Robotic Manipulator is being used. We have also started moving small and medium fabricated parts, which are validated by the company conformity standards, to stock.

Passing the tests with flying colors as worldwide rig testing begins

To validate our final line test procedures in preparation for first flight, rig testing has begun worldwide. At present, more than 40% of the rigs from around the world are commissioned and active. This is the next level of learning as we aim for Entry into Service reliability at first flight and begin a new era in business aviation with the Learjet 85.