X-Plane’s freeware scene has seen a lot of growth and development as of recent. Many notable projects such as Starvingpilot’s Metroliner and ZeroDollarPayware Seoul have made strides in the increasingly popular trend of developers volunteering their time to contribute their products to the community for free. Today, FlyingPenguin’s Learjet 35 takes center stage. Originally existing as an X-Plane 10 aircraft with a 2D cockpit, the aircraft has seen considerable updates, such as a new 3D cockpit, a fully modeled cabin, and a complete rework of its 3D model. 

The Learjet 35’s Background

Learjet is a Canadian corporate jet manufacturer based in Wichita, Kansas. Since its founding in 1962, the company has seen its brand evolve quite a bit, first merging with Gates Aviation in 1967, and then an acquisition by Bombardier Aerospace. They’ve developed some famous aircraft, such as the Learjet 35, 45, and 60. Unfortunately, Bombardier announced that they’re discontinuing the Learjet line of aircraft but will continue to support the worlds existing fleet. 

Relating back to the -35 variant of the Learjet line, the aircraft made its debut in 1973, serving as a successor to the more ancient Learjet 25. The more efficient -35 featured Garrett TFE731 turbofan engines, rather than turbojet General Electric CJ610s fitted on the 25 (and earlier) series. Notably, Learjet 35s contain a reputation for their absurd ability to climb at unholy rates, sometimes exceeding 5000 feet per minute.

Freeware Stud

FlyingPenguin is very active in his project, even to this day. He hosts a thread on the X-Plane forums where he actively updates the community on his development whereabouts, and responds to bug inquiries. AviTab integration may soon be introduced to the plane after a user recommended it’s addition to the cockpit. Overall, the developer is very invested in the project and continues to improve the quality of the Learjet. 

Now taking a look at the physical aspects of the plane, the Lear 35 contains a 3D cockpit, cabin and exterior model. I’ll save the obvious deficits for the next section, but the cockpit appears to be accurately modeled with all systems and miscellaneous switches in their correct position. The exterior model features a barebones yet satisfactory model of the Lear’s real-life counterpart. Whilst not particularly stunning, the 3D cabin is a nice little touch, especially since it presents itself with a neat little cabin control panel. Overall, the modeling of the aircraft meets “acceptable” standards.

Systems functionality is where the aircraft shines the most, EVERYTHING in the cockpit is interactable one way or another. Autopilot serves its purpose without any daunting issues, and the GPS configuration was a nice touch. Those who can’t stand to use the default Garmin can opt to use a GTN750 mod instead to enhance navigation experience. Obviously, these systems aren’t “incredible” per-se but they operate at a level suitable for even “lower-end” payware aircraft. Shipping with the aircraft comes a complete menu to configure and operate the plane to the specification that the pilot desires. Another cool little detail is the fully functioning circuit breakers for the systems gurus. 

The flight model represents the true nature of the Learjet - aerobatic and highly performing. Pilots can easily achieve 5000+fpm climbs without issue. It’s important to mention that the aircraft does feel a bit sensitive at times, so aspiring pilots should pay attention to excessive inputs to avoid any potential issues arising from such. The aircraft’s TFE731s are very responsive, sudden throttle inputs will result in the aircraft changing speeds, sometimes unnaturally fast. 

The Not-so-Good

Most obvious of the issues the Learjet presents itself with is the subpar textures. I would argue that these textures, both inside and out, some areas would even be comparable with those of older FSX aircraft such as the Alejandro Lucena McDonnell Douglas MD80 freeware from a decade ago. The lack of PBR or advanced texture mapping casts a shadow on the aircraft’s potential beauty. Another pressing issue is the very confusing sound installation procedure. Unlike the vast majority of X-Plane aircraft these days, the Learjet 35 requires users to utilize FlyWithLua scripts to achieve decent sounds. Users who don’t pursue the more “difficult” FlyWithLua sound option will have to be content with default X-Plane sounds, which really delegitimize a potentially “eargasmic” environment. Lastly, a somewhat minor nitpicky issue, users who want to use a GPS other than the default Garmin 530 will be forced to use their third-party GPS within the 3D model of the default X-Plane GPS. If this concept is (understandably) difficult to visualize, take a look at this video which exemplifies this scenario. 

Conclusion

As the X-Plane 11 freeware scene continues to develop, users are getting more opportunities to put their hands on aircraft of increasing complexity, and quality. FlyingPenguins Learjet 35 is no exception to the rule; The Lear is a well-simulated rendition of its real-life counterpart. Whilst it may not rank amongst higher quality freeware such as the HoldMyBeer SR22, it’s a fun plane that will get you from point A to point B without issue. Aspiring pilots can download the Learjet 35 on the X-Plane website here.