LearAvia Lear Fan 2100

As part of the Museum’s Adopt-a-Plane program, the LearAvia Lear Fan 2100 is graciously  adopted by the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation.

One of the last aircraft designed by Bill Lear, the LearAvia Lear Fan 2100 is one of the first business aircraft constructed with carbon fiber materials. The radical twin-engine, single prop “pusher” design pushed the limits of engineering ingenuity. One of Lear’s favorite sayings describes this mammoth project well, “Don’t take a nibble...take the big bite!“ After Lear’s passing, his wife Moya honored his final wish, took the big bite, and finished the project.  

Serial #001 flew on New Year’s Day, 1 January 1981, but the British government indicated the flight occurred on “32” December 1980 to meet the first flight funding requirement by the end of the year.

Marketing hailed the LearAvia Lear Fan 2100 as the “world’s first plastic business aircraft” since construction material consisted almost entirely of advanced carbon fiber composites. Twice as strong as aluminum and weighing only half as much, the Lear Fan 2100’s design maximized fuel efficiency.

Our Lear Fan 2100, serial #003, is the first Lear Fan manufactured to production standard and is one of the three aircraft produced. It first flew in June 1982 and completed 970 flight test hours before LearAvia declared bankruptcy in 1985. Donated by the EAA AirVenture Museum of Oshkosh, WI, volunteers of the Frontiers of Flight Museum restored #003. The others are on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA and the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute in Oklahoma City, OK.

How did the push propulsion system differ from the traditional design and why would it be beneficial in a business aviation aircraft?