Flexjet and Bombardier Unveil New Learjet 85 Aircraft Mock-Up in Chicago

DALLAS, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- (www.flexjet.com/learjet85tour) – Flexjet, the first fractional jet ownership company to offer shares on the all-new Learjet 85 aircraft, and business aircraft manufacturer Bombardier, will be in Chicago on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 as part of an 11-city U.S. tour offering the opportunity to experience firsthand the aircraft that is poised to revolutionize the industry. Event partner Rolls-Royce and distinguished winemakers from Cardinale, Freemark Abbey and Etude will be onsite offering interactive experiences and expert tasting sessions for an unforgettable evening of style, luxury and performance.

Attendees are invited to take an exclusive tour of the Learjet 85 aircraft – the first FAR Part 25 certified business jet built primarily from composite materials – and see first-hand the latest advances in aerodynamics, structures and efficiency that are ushering in a new benchmark in performance. Rolls-Royce's Phantom and Ghost automobiles will be available for test-drives throughout the evening.

"Anticipation for the Learjet 85 has been building since the program launch back in 2007," said Fred Reid, President, Flexjet. "With delivery scheduled for 2013, we've brought the Learjet 85 aircraft model, and some of our finest partners, to Chicago so our owners can truly experience the world of possibilities that will open up to them with the Learjet 85's class-leading innovations. Featuring the latest in cabin technologies, and the Bombardier Vision flight deck cockpit, we are relishing the opportunity to brightly shine the spotlight on the Learjet 85."

An industry first, the primarily composite structures of the Learjet 85 aircraft enhance passenger comfort through the use of complex curves in the aircraft cross-section and thinner wall thickness to maximize cabin volume to create the largest Learjet aircraft ever designed. Responsible for not only improving performance and minimizing drag through smoother aerodynamics, the airframe made mostly of composite material requires less maintenance and is easier to repair for an extended service life. Other innovations include the aircraft's state-of-the-art Pratt & Whitney PW307B turbofan engine, the Bombardier Vision flight deck featuring the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite – one of the most advanced suites ever offered onboard a midsize aircraft – and an advanced entertainment and wireless Internet system.

The Learjet 85 aircraft will feature the company's new interior design updates, including the latest in aircraft interior design, newly designed seats, innovative storage solutions, a state-of-the-art cabin entertainment system and groundbreaking passenger interfaces. It is capable of accommodating eight passengers in a traditional double-club seating arrangement, with approximately 30 inches (76.2 cm) between each seat for more room than ever when traveling on long distance flights. The aircraft offers a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82 and a transcontinental range of up to 3,000nm (5,556km)* making the Learjet 85 business jet the fastest and most efficient in its class.

The addition of the Learjet 85 aircraft means Flexjet owners will continue to have access to some of the most technologically advanced and youngest business jets in the industry, averaging approximately five years of age.

For more information and to learn about pricing options, please call 888-503-8854 or visit www.flexjet.com/learjet85tour.

About Flexjet
Richardson, TX-based Flexjet—a division of Bombardier, the world's largest business aviation manufacturer—first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet now offers whole aircraft ownership and management, fractional jet ownership, jet cards and charter brokerage services. Flexjet's fractional aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation's Industry Audit Standard, and Flexjet is the first and only company to be honored with its 13^th FAA Diamond Award for Excellence. Flexjet's fractional program fields an exclusive family of Bombardier business aircraft—the youngest in the fractional jet industry with an average age of approximately five years—including the Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 45 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300 and Challenger 605 business jets.  For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com. 

Flexjet has an approved fractional ownership program pursuant 14 C.F.R. Part 91, Subpart K, and manages flights for individual aircraft owners under Part 91 whole aircraft management program. All other flights (e.g. Flexjet 25 jet card program, charter brokerage program, etc.) are provided by certificated air carriers in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, as Flexjet is not an air carrier.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world's only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we posted revenues of $18.3 billion USD. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

The Flexjet 25 Jet Card Program is operated under Part 135 by Jet Solutions, LLC, a U.S. air carrier. Flexjet acts as an agent for Jet Solutions, LLC, in connection with the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program. Flexjet acts as an agent for the customer with on-demand charter broker services when arranging transportation operated under Part 135 by U.S. air carriers.

About Rolls-Royce
Since 1904 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has created instantly recognizable vehicles that have made the marquee an enduring icon all over the world. Rolls-Royce represents the pinnacle in luxury automobiles. Each vehicle is hand-made at the company's plant in England at the Goodwood estate to the exact specifications of each customer. In showrooms this Fall, marks the first significant improvements to the Phantom since 2003 and features several technological upgrades intended to improve the timeless appeal, performance and efficiency of the car. For more information, please visit our PressClub: www.press.rolls-roycemotorcars.com.

The Evolution of Mobility, Bombardier, Challenger, Challenger 300, Challenger 605, Flexjet, Flexjet 25, Learjet, Learjet 40, Learjet 45, Learjet 60, Learjet 70, Learjet 75, Learjet 85, Bombardier Vision and XR are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

*Under certain operating conditions

SOURCE Flexjet