LearAvia decided to increase the gross weight of its yet to be built Lear Fan 2100 turboprop from 6,000 to 7,200 pounds. This change will add only 24 extra pounds of structural material. The extra load carry¬ing capacity will cut range, speed and single engine ceiling slightly.
A successful first flight was made on 1 January 1981 by the first prototype. Powered by two pusher Pratt & Whitney PT6B-35F, two more prototypes were under construction at Reno, plus a static test example.
The Lear Fan spent all of 1981 in flight tests after a New Year’s Day first flight. The Lear Fan cabin has been stretched and much design effort has been concentrated on the single pusher propeller; however, Learavia still hoped to have the non-metal airplane certificated by the end of 1982.
Ownership passed 1982 to Fan Holdings Inc. of U.S.A., but with production in Northern Ireland. Production moved to U.S.A. 1983 but program halted 1985.
Engines: 2 x 850 hp P&W
Seats: 7.
Empty Wt: 4100 lbs.
Gross wt: 7400 lbs.
Useful load: 3300 lb
Max Cruise: 400 mph
Max range: 1800 sm
All Aero 