Bombardier's Fractional Launch Customer Showcases New Aircraft Model At Exclusive Event

Flexjet, the first fractional jet ownership company to offer shares on the all-new Learjet 85 aircraft, and business aircraft manufacturer Bombardier, were in Chicago on Wednesday as part of an 11-city U.S. tour offering the opportunity to experience firsthand the aircraft that they say is poised to "revolutionize the industry."

Attendees were invited to take an exclusive tour of the Learjet 85 aircraft – the first FAR Part 25 certified business jet built primarily from composite materials – and see first-hand the "latest advances in aerodynamics, structures and efficiency" that the company says is ushering in a new benchmark in performance. "Anticipation for the Learjet 85 has been building since the program launch back in 2007," said Fred Reid, President, Flexjet. "With delivery scheduled for 2013, we've brought the Learjet 85 aircraft model, and some of our finest partners, to Chicago so our owners can truly experience the world of possibilities that will open up to them with the Learjet 85's class-leading innovations. Featuring the latest in cabin technologies, and the Bombardier Vision flight deck cockpit, we are relishing the opportunity to brightly shine the spotlight on the Learjet 85."

The primarily-composite structures of the Learjet 85 aircraft enhance passenger comfort through the use of complex curves in the aircraft cross-section and thinner wall thickness to maximize cabin volume to create the largest Learjet aircraft ever designed, according to Bombardier. Responsible for not only improving performance and minimizing drag through smoother aerodynamics, the airframe made mostly of composite material requires less maintenance and is easier to repair for an extended service life. Other innovations include the aircraft's state-of-the-art Pratt & Whitney PW307B turbofan engine, the Bombardier Vision flight deck featuring the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite – one of the most advanced suites ever offered onboard a midsize aircraft – and an advanced entertainment and wireless Internet system.

The Learjet 85 aircraft will feature the company's new interior design updates, including the latest in aircraft interior design, newly designed seats, innovative storage solutions, a state-of-the-art cabin entertainment system and groundbreaking passenger interfaces. It is capable of accommodating eight passengers in a traditional double-club seating arrangement. The aircraft is projected to have a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82 and a transcontinental range of up to 3,000nm.

(Artist's rendering of Lear 85 provided by Bombardier)

FMI: www.flexjet.com/learjet85tour