Takeoff

• Set flaps to 8 or 20 as desired.
• Advance the throttles gradually at first then obtain full throttle.
• At V1, approximately 136 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), is decision speed. Above this speed, it may not be possible to stop the aircraft on the runway in case of a rejected takeoff (RTO).
• At Vr, approximately 143 KIAS, smoothly pull the yoke back to raise the nose to 10 degrees above the horizon. Hold this pitch attitude and be careful not to over-rotate.
• At V2, approximately 146 KIAS, the aircraft has reached its takeoff safety speed. This is the minimum safe flying speed should an engine fail. Hold this speed until you get a positive rate of climb.
• As soon as the aircraft is showing a positive rate of climb (both vertical speed and altitude are increasing), retract the landing gear. The aircraft will quickly accelerate to the flap-retraction speed. This number is V2+ 30, or about 176 knots. Retract the flaps.

Climb

• After retracting the gear and flaps, you don't need to reduce power unless you level off below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and you need to remain below FAA speed limits. To remain level at 200 KIAS at 2,000 feet (610 meters), for example, pull the power back to 53 to 55 percent N1. A power setting of 60 to 63 percent will get you 250 KIAS while level at this altitude.
• If you continue your climb above 10,000 feet, leave the power up as long as it remains below the “max continuous temperature” on the interstage turbine temperature gauge (ITT). You should be climbing at 1,800 to 2,000 feet per minute. Learjet pilots run their engines at maximum a good deal of the time.
• Increase the pitch attitude to maintain 250 knots until reaching 0.7 Mach. Then, maintain 0.7 Mach for the rest of the climb. The changeover from indicated airspeed to Mach number typically occurs as you climb to altitudes in the high 20s or low 30s.

Cruse

• Normal cruise speed is 0.77 Mach. Set power at around 90 percent N1. If you're showing indicated airspeed on the airspeed gauge, the needle will settle down at about 280 KIAS.

Descent

• To descend, disengage the autopilot if you turned it on during cruise (or use the autopilot hold features and let it fly for you). Reduce power to idle, and lower the nose slightly. Remember not to exceed the regulation speed limit of 250 KIAS below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). You may have to adjust power to maintain your speed and rate of descent. Continue this profile down to the beginning of the approach phase of flight.

Approach

• A good target speed as you enter the downwind for VFR flight or at your initial approach fix for IFR flight is 200 KIAS. As you begin the approach but before you turn toward the runway, bring the power back, and hold altitude to reduce speed. Extend 8 degrees of flaps. Let the airplane stabilize at 180 knots.
• During the first turn toward the runway (either on the base leg or when turning inbound on an ILS), extend 20 degrees of flaps.

Landing

• When you're approaching the normal descent point on a visual approach, or one dot below the glideslope approaching the final approach fix on an ILS approach, extend the landing gear.
• Smoothly increase power to maintain 140 knots, your final approach speed. As you intercept the glideslope, set 40 degrees of flaps. This configuration should hold airspeed at 140 knots with a good descent angle toward the runway.
• Hold 140 knots all the way down on final approach. Use small power adjustments to stay on the glideslope. Look for a descent rate of about 700 fpm.
• At about 50 feet above the runway and past the runway threshold, bring the thrust levers to idle. Hold the pitch attitude you've used during final approach. Don't try to raise or lower the nose. When you touch down, deploy the spoilers, and add reverse thrust, then apply brakes.