The Learjet 45 was Learjet’s first completely new model since the Learjet 23 and the first with Bombardier as owner of Learjet. The 45 is larger than the Learjet 31 and smaller than the 60. The cabin is 7 feet longer than the 31 and has more head and shoulder room than any other aircraft in its class. The cabin has double-club seating, a galley and a full aft lavatory.
The cockpit has a Honeywell Primus 1000 integrated avionics suite and the FADEC equipped Honeywell TFE 731-20AR engines were developed in cooperation with Learjet for increased fuel economy and reduced operating and maintenance costs.
First flight for the Learjet 45 was on October 7, 1995, which was the 32nd anniversary of the original Lear 23. It was certified in 1998.