Lear began his career in aviation technology in 1919, servicing U.S. mail planes. An innovator in many areas, he patented more than 150 designs and inventions used internationally in the fields of aircraft radios, communications and navigation. He is recognized for developing the first successful jet autopilot. Bill Lear’s philosophy was, “nothing is impossible if you imagine it in all its detail.” A self-taught aeronautical and electrical engineer, Lear was an inventor and manufacturer who left a clear mark on the aviation industry. In the late 1950’s Lear envisioned a small private jet, specifically designed for business travelers. In 1962 in Wichita, Kansas, he built the first prototype of Learjet Model 23. Learjet enjoys a worldwide reputation for serving business, corporate, military and special-mission markets. More than 1,600 aircraft have been built since the first Model 23 came off the Wichita assembly line in 1962.