Fans of Historic Plane Built in Wichita Launch Effort To Restore It To Flying Condition

Feb. 28—The first Learjet plane to be delivered to a customer has made the return trip to Wichita, where a group of aviation enthusiasts say they are committed to restoring it to flying condition.

The Learjet 23 plane, known as 23-003, was the third of its kind to be manufactured in 1964. Until the newly formed Classic Lear Jet Foundation stepped in, it was deteriorating on a ramp at the Bartow Executive Airport in Florida.

"We're going to restore the airplane and then we're going to connect — we're going to connect to keep the story alive of the jet that started the industry by preserving this piece of legendary flight history," said Rick Rowe, a spokesperson for the nonprofit foundation and a former demo pilot who has logged more than 9,000 hours in various Learjet models.

Patton Trucking of Clearwater hauled the disassembled 23-003 from Florida to Wichita, where it arrived this week.

"It isn't completely paid for, and we can't really start the restoration until we get it paid for," Rowe said.

The foundation still needs to raise roughly $70,000 of the $90,000 they agreed to pay the plane's previous owner before restoration efforts begin. They're accepting donations on their website at https://classiclear.org/.

A number of businesses and organizations have already agreed to help with various parts of the restoration, but the plane will remain in storage for the time being until the foundation identifies a facility to work out of.

A project timeline and the actual cost of restoration have not yet been established, Rowe said.

Conversations about saving 23-003 began in February 2022. Rowe said he and the other foundation members, mostly current and former Learjet employees, were inspired by the restoration of the B-29 bomber Doc.

Ultimately, they want to see the historic Learjet return to the skies as part of an educational living flight history program.

"It is a passion project for all of us," Rowe said.

Learjet, based in Wichita, has been a Bombardier subsidiary since 1990. The Canadian-owned manufacturer named Wichita its official U.S. headquarters last April, less than a month after the final Learjet 75 rolled out of its Wichita hangar.

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