LEARJET IS PREPARING to fly the engine testbed for its new Learjet 45 business-jet by early February. An AlliedSignal TFE731-20 turbofan has been installed on the left side of a Learjet 31 prototype for tests in advance of the first flight of the Learjet 45 later this year.
The testbed will be used to evaluate performance of the new TFE731-20 at altitudes up to 51,000ft (15,500m), higher than AlliedSignal was able to achieve with the turbofan mounted on its Boeing 720 engine testbed.
Learjet says that tests will concentrate on performance with the Learjet 45 inlet and optimisation of software for the full-authority digital engine-control, particularly at higher altitudes.
The company plans to roll out the first Learjet 45 in the second quarter of 1995, with a first flight following in the third quarter. Certification is scheduled for 1996, says Learjet.
Source: Flight International
