Bombardier switched on the electrical and avionics systems of the first Learjet 75 to roll down the company’s Wichita production line during the week of August 21. The Learjet 75 is an updated version of the 45XR, and the 70 replaces the 40XR. Both feature a new Garmin G5000-based Bombardier Vision flight deck with touchscreen controllers mounted in the cockpit pedestal, synthetic vision display on the PFDs and Garmin’s new solid-state GWX 70 radar. Changes to both the Learjet 75 and the 70 include more powerful Honeywell TFE731-40BR engines, redesigned winglets canted further out and new seats and cabin management system. Performance upgrades deliver up to a 9-percent improvement in field performance and a 4-percent improvement in fuel efficiency.

The first Learjet 75 joins a test program that will include five jets: a modified 40XR and a 45XR, both of which are flying with the new Vision flight deck, and two more 45XRs, one for interior and cabin management system testing and the other to validate the performance improvements.