Learjet Model 25

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Learjet Model: 25 Nickname: Learjet
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Business Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Multi-engine Land
> Engine Description: Twin jet

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 17
> Number of Times Flown: 10
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: various Learjet models

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 25
> Date First Flown: 5/2/1986
> Location First Flown: NAS Patuxent River, MD (KNHK)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Calspan Corporation

Recollections: My involvement with this aircraft, though I haven’t flown it many times, is quite varied.  My first flight and about half of my flights in the “Learjet 25” were flown in a very unique Learjet…the CALSPAN variable stability (VSS) Learjet…an airplane where the left set of controls are standard but the right seat (where I flew) had a fly-by-wire system that could be linked to a stick, a yoke or a sidestick and be made to simulate any aircraft (or, for that matter, change any stability parameter to make it fly like any POTENTIAL airplane).  This unique, world-asset is used for the training of test pilots and the development of flight control laws in modern aircraft such as the SAAB Grippen and other advanced aircraft.    I flew it in it’s training role, at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.  

The other half of my relatively small number of flights were flown on projects while I was assigned to the FAA’s Wichita Aircraft Certification Office (ACO).  But, my last flight (as of the writing of this entry) was again in the CALSPAN VSS, this time as part of a Pilot Induced Oscillation (PIO) training course with the FAA.  This important and unique asset has spanned my career as a test pilot and continues its service to this day.