1960:
Bill Lear forms the Swiss American Aircraft Corp. (SAAC) to
develop a business jet based on the Swiss FFA P-16 jet fighter.
1962: Lear brings the project to Wichita,
Kansas and forms the Lear Jet Corp.
1963: The prototype of the first Learjet
(the Lear Jet 23) flies.
1967: Majority holding is acquired by Gates
Rubber and the company name is changed to Gates Learjet.
1987: Integrated Acquisition buys the
majority holding and renames the company Learjet, Inc.
1990: Bombardier
acquires Learjet as a wholly-owned subsidiary.