1950s

The Lear Jet pioneered the creation of business jet aviation and the name is often synonymous with the terms private jet or business jet. Founded by Bill Lear in the late 1950’s as Swiss American Aviation Corporation, with the final Learjet design adapted for the 1950’s Swiss ground-attack fighter aircraft, the FFA P-16. At that time the company was located in Altenrhein, Switzerland, and was staffed by Swiss, German and British Design Engineers. Originally, the aircraft was planned to be called the SAAC-23. The distinctive tip fuel tanks and landing gear of the first Learjets were nearly identical to those used by the fighter prototypes. In September of 1962, Bill Lear moved the production from Switzerland to Wichita, Kansas to improve the build times, despite the labor costs being more affordable in Switzerland. On February 7, 1963, the new plant constructed at Wichita’s airport began assembly of the first Learjet. The company was renamed the Lear Jet Corporation the following year.