Gates Learjet 23

摘要

Fashioned after the Swiss FFA P-16 jet fighter, which was canceled by the Swiss Government in the late fifties, William P. Lear envisioned that airframe, and its potential, as a twin-engine business jet. The first Learjet 23 prototype, N801L, flew on October 7, 1963. This model, N802L, is the first of the production Model 23s. The model has proven to be stable and flies like a dream! The twin GWS EDF 50s push the Learjet along at an astounding slow flight speed, but with more than enough power. Designed for micro R/C equipment, the prototype weighed 12.5 ounces, ready to fly. It has been flown at 14 ounces. I've always wanted a model Learjet, but the impetus for this model came after seeing Chris Starleaf s Fokker 100 (FLYING MODELS, September 2002) and the release of the GWS EDF 50 and GWS micro R/C equipment. Much of Chris Starleaf s information on electric ducted fans convinced me this Learjet was possible. The model was scaled from a plastic Testors Learjet kit No. 7500.