Athough you'll get some arguments in some quarters, it's generally accepted that the Lear 23 was the first practical business jet. It's been flying for more than 43 years, and, remarkably, of the 100 Lear 23s made, 45 are still flying. Bill Lear Jr. worked on the project with his father Bill Sr., and he wonders just how much progress the new crop of very light jets represents, in light of the relatively fast, relatively inexpensive, and relatively problem-free development of the 23. Bill Lear Jr. spoke with AVweb's Russ Niles on the history — and the future — of small jets.
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