Latest news with #LearJet
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers owner Murray recalls chilling phone call after fatal private jet crash which Scots F1 hero walked away from
Sir David described the moment he was told of the 'terrible news' in a chilling phone call JET TERROR Ex-Rangers owner Murray recalls chilling phone call after fatal private jet crash which Scots F1 hero walked away from Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIR David Murray told of his horror after his private jet crashed killing both pilots - but incredibly F1 driver David Coulthard survived. The LearJet came down near Lyon, France in May 2000 and claimed the lives of flyers David Saunders and Dan Worley. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 6 The horror scene of the LearJet crash near Lyon in May 2000 Credit: Reuters 6 David Coulthard and his then fiance, Heidi Winchelski, pictured after surviving the crash Credit: EPA 6 The Scottish Sun's front page of the killer crash Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 6 Sir David Murray, former Rangers owner, has told of his horror after his jet crashed killing both pilots Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Miraculously, race driver Coulthard, 54, walked away from the wreckage along with his then fiancee Heidi Wichlinski and fitness trainer Andy Matthews. Sir David recalled: 'I was in Scotland and took a call from Northern Executive managing director David Antrobus. 'He opened the conversation by saying, 'I have terrible news'. 'He then told me that the LearJet, which was still in the process of being sold, had crash-landed in Lyon, France. 'The aircraft had left London Farnborough bound for Nice but tragedy struck 90 minutes into the flight. 'Both pilots, David Saunders and Dan Worley, had been killed instantly but what David said next stunned me. 'He said that Formula One driver David Coulthard, his fiancee at the time Heidi Wichlinski and David's fitness trainer Andy Matthews were the passengers and had all walked out of the wreckage. A small dog also survived. 'I got in touch with David as soon as I could and we spoke at length about what had happened. He told me that after escaping the wreckage he had even gone back to see if he could help the pilots but there was nothing he could do.' 6 Pilots David Saunders and Dan Worley died in the crash involving Sir David's plane Credit: Reuters 6 Sir David details the tragedy in his new book, Mettle Elsewhere in his new book, Sir David told how he still has shards in his leg from the wreckage of the sports car that nearly killed him in a horror crash almost half a century ago. The ex-Rangers owner was just 24 when he had both legs amputated after the flash motor careered into a tree following a tyre blow-out in 1976. Despite the horrific accident, he refused to let the ordeal define him and went on to become a towering figure in Scottish society through his metals business and Ibrox tenure. Sir David, 73, became a millionaire with company Murray International Metals and purchased Rangers for £6million in 1988. Under his stewardship, the club embarked on a period of unparalleled success with iconic managers Graeme Souness and Walter Smith - and fan favourites Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup. He was also instrumental in the club smashing their sectarian signing policy by buying their first high profile Catholic player Mo Johnston from under Celtic's noses in 1989. Sir David faced further tragedy in his personal life when beloved first wife Louise - mum to their sons David and Keith - died from cancer in 1992. SIR DAVID MURRAY: A TIMELINE 1951 - Born in Ayr 1974 - Founds Murray International Metals aged 23 1976 - Loses both legs in a car crash 1984 - Awarded Young Scottish Businessman of the Year 1988 - Buys Rangers FC for £6million 1989 - Rangers win the first of a record-equalling nine successive league titles and buy first high profile Catholic, Maurice Johnston, for £1.5m from under the noses of Celtic. 1991: Walter Smith succeeds Graeme Souness as manager. 1992 - Wife Louise - mum of their two sons - dies after a cancer battle. 1993: Rangers sign Duncan Ferguson for a record transfer fee between British clubs of £4million. 1995: Paul Gascoigne signs for a club record £4.3m. 1998: Dick Advocaat is appointed manager and club break their transfer record three times that summer by signing Arthur Numan (£4.5m), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (£5m) and Andrei Kanchelskis (£5.5m). Murray declares that for 'every £5 Celtic spend, we will spend £10.' 2000: Rangers smash transfer record by signing Tore Andre Flo from Chelsea for £12m. 2001: Murray Park is opened at a cost of £14m. 2007 - Knighted for services to business 2009 - Sir David steps down as Rangers chairman and as a member of the board, with the club having won 15 titles and 21 cups during his tenure May 2011 - He sells his controlling interest in Rangers for £1 to Wavetower Limited, owned by businessman Craig Whyte. Dad Ian was also locked up for a spell before dying at 50. He split from second wife Kae Tinto in 2018 after seven years of marriage and is now understood to split his time between Perthshire and France, where he owns vineyards. He remains the chairman of Murray Capital Group and his sons play key roles in the running of the business. - Mettle: Tragedy, Courage & Titles by Sir David Murray, is on sale Thursday July 3 from Amazon and all good bookshops. Preorder on Amazon here. Sir David is donating his royalties to Erskine Hospital.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Learjet completes polar trip, returning to Wichita today
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Learjet 36A that took off from Wichita last Wednesday evening has made it to the Arctic Circle and is returning to Wichita. The Learjet Polar Mission plane and crew have been attempting a polar circumnavigation involving several things. First, they had to cross over 75 degrees south latitude, which they did on Friday. Then they had to head north, crossing the equator more than 90 degrees from where they crossed it when heading south. Rain returns and will stick around through the week The crew's latest goal was achieved as the Learjet crossed over 75 degrees north latitude, into the northern polar region. Captain Bart Gray posted the update on social media. Snowy mountains, icy airstrips, and that unreal Arctic light, what a moment. From the bottom of the world to the top, the Polar Mission is officially in the Arctic Circle!' Captain Bart Gray, Learjet Polar Mission The final element of the polar circumnavigation is that they must return to Bombardier Building 14 in Wichita, where they started the journey. The plane should arrive around 2:30 p.m. on Monday. The original goal was to fly over the South and North Poles in three days, but weather conditions made that impossible. The flight was to raise funds for the restoration of Lear Jet 23-003, the first Lear Jet ever sold in the Air Capital, back when the company was called Lear Jet instead of Learjet. Rowe says the Lear Jet 23-003 started the business jet industry in Wichita. Global Jetcare, an air ambulance service in Florida, volunteered its plane, and four of the company's pilots have been taking turns flying the mission. You can track the journey at You can also get updates from the crew on the Classic Lear Jet Foundation Facebook page. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Learjet Polar Mission continues after weather delay
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A Learjet 36A that took off from Wichita Wednesday evening is getting closer to making it to the South Pole after a weather delay in Argentina. The Learjet Polar Mission crew planned to fly to the South Pole, then the North Pole, and return to Wichita on Saturday. However, the weather delay means the arrival in Wichita will likely be sometime on Sunday. 'No Learjet has ever attempted such an aggressive mission over both poles,' Rick Rowe, public relations for the Classic Lear Jet Foundation, said. Spirit AeroSystems to lay off workers due to backlog The flight is to raise funds for the restoration of Lear Jet 23-003, the first Lear Jet ever sold in the Air Capital, back when the company was called Lear Jet instead of Learjet. Rowe says the Lear Jet 23-003 started the business jet industry in Wichita. Global Jetcare, an air ambulance service in Florida, volunteered its plane, and four of the company's pilots are taking turns flying the mission. You can track the journey at You can also get updates from the crew on the Classic Lear Jet Foundation Facebook page. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
First-ever Learjet Polar Mission departs Wichita, raises $100k for restoration
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A Learjet flying to the South Pole, then to the North Pole, took off from Wichita Wednesday night. It's an effort to raise money for the Classic Lear Jet Foundation to restore the first-ever Learjet delivered. A flight captain on the crew said that it's the first-ever Lear Jet to make this journey. Brenda Lear, the widow of Bill Lear Jr.—the son of Lear Jet's founder—was in attendance. She became emotional as the plane was named in honor of her late husband. 'I'm going to cry for allowing this flight to be the William Powell Lear Junior Mission, Polar Mission,' Lear said. The emotion behind keeping Wichita aviation history alive. 'This is a pretty unique, new experience for all of us,' Polar Mission Captain Bart Gray said. He said more than a year of planning for their crew of four to make history was well worth it. 'A lot of late nights and all-night working on this and thinking about it; now that it's finally here, this town is amazing. When it comes to Wichita, no matter who you talk to, they're tied to aviation, which is such a cool place to be,' Gray said. Bart's co-captain, Joshn Podlich, said they successfully raised their goal of $100,000 for the Classic Lear Jet Foundation. It will be used to restore the first-ever Learjet delivered, the Lear 23, Serial Number 3. 'It's important to keep the name alive however possible; that way, the leader of business aviation, the first Learjets, aren't forgotten and don't go by the wayside,' Podlich said. Bill Lear Jr. had special hats made before his passing so he would still be in the air. His wife is giving the final one to the crew before takeoff. Her way of knowing they'll make it back to Wichita, safe. Kansas WWII paratrooper to make his final jump this weekend 'This is going to keep everybody safe on the flight, because they're taking Bill Jr. with them,' Lear said. The crew shared that they hope it is clear over Antarctica for them to get a glimpse of the South Pole. They plan to land back in Wichita this Saturday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Pole to pole: A Learjet will soon leave Wichita on a worldwide mission
A Learjet will depart from Wichita this week as pilots try to fly to the South Pole, then the North Pole and back to Wichita in three days. The 'Polar Mission,' more formally known as polar circumnavigation, is a trip through both poles. The flight was organized by the Classic Lear Jet Foundation based in Wichita. 'No Learjet has ever attempted this aggressive mission,' foundation spokesperson Rick Rowe said. The Rockwell Polar Flight in November 1965 was the first to complete a circumnavigation. The mission is intended to raise money to restore Lear Jet 23-003, the first Learjet to ever be delivered to a customer on Oct. 13, 1964, Rowe said in a phone call. The foundation is in the early stages of restoration and is dismantling the plane. Rowe could not say how much it would cost to restore it. 'We have to take all the wiring, plumbing, flight control cables and all the insulation out of the fuselage,' Rowe said. 'In other words, just make it, make it a skeleton.' The Learjet 36A that will be flown across the world landed at Stearman Airfield in Benton on April 24. It will depart on April 30 and will return May 3. The funding and plane were provided by Global Jetcare, an air ambulance company based in Florida. Bart Gray is the CEO of Global Jetcare and the vice president of the Classic Lear Jet Foundation. 'He is an avid Learjet pilot and a real aficionado of Learjet airplanes,' Rowe said. 'He is the one who suggested we do this and has done all the planning for it.' Gray, along with three other pilots, will take turns flying the plane on the polar mission. 'At each stop on the flight, the crew will perform research by placing a scale on the wing of the plane to help determine if the Earth is bigger on the Equator and document it,' the foundation said. There are 12 stops on the route, a flight path graphic shows. Lear Jet was founded in 1962 by William Powell. It was later renamed Learjet. Bombardier acquired the company in 1990 and announced the end of production for all models in 2021, bringing roughly 60 years of Learjet history to an end. Lear Jet 23-003 has historical significance. 'Business aviation was alive and well in 1962 to 1964 when Bill Lear first came to town and started building the jet,' Rowe said. 'But during that time they were flying piston prop planes, so when Bill got the Lear all figured out and designed and engineered and delivered, the world became a lot smaller because this airplane would go twice as far, twice as fast than the business aviation airplanes at that time.' The Learjet used two General Electric turbojet engines. Rowe added: 'It's iconic to civilian aviation as a business jet, just as Doc [B29] is to military aviation.' A real-time tracker will be available to view the plane's route after it departs from Wichita at
