Gallery: Bombardier Delivers Final Learjet

Bombardier delivered the final Learjet off the production line, an eight-passenger Learjet 75, to Charles Cox, CEO of Northern Jet Management at a ceremony at the Wichita site. Delivery ends six decades of production of the iconic jet, with 3,055 built. About 2,000 remain in service. Credit: Brett Schauff

Tonya Sudduth, Bombardier Business Aircraft vice president of operations and head of the Wichita Learjet site, addresses employees, executives and others during a delivery ceremony March 28. “There’s no doubt that today is an emotional day for many of us as it marks the end of the production era of Learjet,” she says. “However, the emotion that is most prominent that I’ve seen in all my conversations with (employees) over the past several days and months is pride.” Credit: Brett Schauff

Charles (Chuck) Cox, CEO of Northern Jet Management based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, saw the Learjet 75 for the first time when he entered the hangar for the ceremony. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Cox says. “It’s the absolute most beautiful one we’ve ever purchased.” Credit: Brett Schauff

Wichita Learjet employees attend a delivery ceremony for the final Learjet to come off the production line. The site employs 1,100, including 400 hourly workers. All but about 50 employees on the assembly line were moved into other positions, according to Sudduth. Credit: Brett Schauff

Northern Jet Management is a long-term Learjet customer. Since 2007, Cox and his team have taken delivery of 24 Learjets, beginning with a Learjet 40XR. When Cox learned Bombardier planned to cease production, he signed up to purchase the final one. Northern Jet has purchased three of the last 10 Learjets. Credit: Molly McMillin

Learjet employees have a tradition of signing the aircraft in a discreet spot before delivery. With the final Learjet delivery, the tradition was modified. About 900 employees, retirees and partners signed the aircraft’s official logbook, presented to Cox. “With this logbook, we therefore pass on a piece of our heritage to you,” Sudduth told Cox. “Thank you.” Credit: Brett Schauff

Northern Jet Management CEO Charles Cox looks over the Learjet 75's official logbook signed by 900 employees, retirees and partners. Credit: Molly McMillin

Acceptance of the final Learjet was a “little bittersweet,” Cox says,” because we really like the airplane. They’ve been great. Customers love them.” Northern Jet Management will be in the market for low-time pre-owned Learjets in the future. Cox has not yet decided which aircraft he will purchase in place of the iconic Learjet. Credit: Alex Unruh

Including the new and final Learjet, Northern Jet Management manages 23 aircraft, including 16 Learjets. That includes two company-owned Learjets and three Learjets in the company’s fractional ownership program. The final Learjet will be managed and operated by Northern Jet Management, but ownership will pass to an unnamed corporate buyer. Credit: Brett Schauff

Paul Sislian, Bombardier executive vice president of operations, says the company will continue to service and provide parts support to the 2,000 Learjets in service today. Credit: Brett Schauff

Businesses that own Learjets have been more successful because of them, Cox says, adding that millions have flown in them over the years. "Think about the fun trips that people have takin in the back of the airplanes that you've built," Cox told employees. Credit: Alex Unruh

Don Grommesh, (second from right) Learjet founder Bill Lear’s eighth employee, attended the delivery ceremony. Grommesh, now retired, was Lear’s first chief engineer. He moved to Switzerland with Bill Lear in the early days of the program. “I have mixed emotions,” Grommesh says. Credit: Alex Unruh

Learjet founder Bill Lear's original office has been remodeled into employee cubicles. A photo of former late-night talk-show host Johnny Carson taken inside Bill Lear's office marks the location. The photo is to the right of the clock above the window. Credit: Molly McMillin

A photo of former talk-show host Johnny Carson hosting a press conference in the 1960s while sitting in Bill Lear's chair inside his office hangs in the spot of founder's original office.. Credit: Alex Unruh

Employees, Bombardier executives and others pose with the final Learjet 75 outside Learjet’s Wichita hangar following the delivery ceremony. Bombardier CEO Eric Martel and other Bombardier executives plan to visit Wichita in April to honor the Learjet legacy and focus on the future. Although production has ceased, the facilities include a large service center, flight test center and special missions site. Credit: Bombardier