The 2000th Learjet is a Lear 45.

The first Lear Jet, the Model 23, made its maiden flight on October 7, 1963, nearly 36 years to the day before this, the latest landmark in the Learjet story. Mrs. Lear remembered how "People said to Bill, 'you're a lunatic. Why would a man, 60 years old, hock everything he owns to build tooling for an airplane that has only flown in your imagination.

"You're crazy, there's no market for it, and if there is, you might sell 100, if you're lucky -- and so here we are," she added.

Alongside her husband, Moya Lear was one of the original Board of Directors at Lear Jet. She remains immensely proud of his creation, but is also enthusiastic about the way Bombardier has developed his design. When asked if Bombardier was still holding true to the spirit of the original aircraft she said firmly, "Yes. It's still the most elegant airplane on the ramp, but whenever I see a Learjet today I see a concept that grew."

Joining Mrs. Lear on the podium, was Patrick S. Parker, chairman of Parker Hannifin Corp and Bombardier's customer for the 2,000th Lear aircraft. Speaking about Bill Lear's dream he remembered, "Back in 1958 there weren't too many people who really believed it could be done, but we were one of them."

Pat Parker himself shook hands with Bill Lear and agreed to supply parts for the first aircraft. "Today," he said, "I am proud to take the 2,000th aircraft and fly it around the world for people to see."

The aircraft itself is a Learjet 45, and Don Crandell, president of the National Aeronautic Association, was on hand to award Bombardier a certificate for just one of the six records (three national and three international) set by this model. This certificate, in Class 1G, was for an east-west crossing of the U.S. from Jacksonville, Fla., to Los Angeles, achieved in just 4 hours, 35 minutes at an average speed of 468.7 mph.

Robert Gillespie, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, rounded off events by confirming that Bombardier would indeed be developing new Learjets in the future and by saying the company recognized and respected the tremendous heritage of the Learjet name.

"The legacy of Learjet isn't just about performance and records," he said. "It's about the people who build them and it's our mission, at Learjet in Wichita, to build upon that legacy."

By Robert Hewson