Initially called the LearStar 600, this project became the saving grace of Canadair Ltd. In April 1976, successful inventor William Powell Lear signed a deal giving Canadair exclusive rights to his 14 person executive-passenger jet for five months.
Changing their usual tactics, Canadair immediately set about marketing the plane to the right kind of customer, ensuring people were ready and willing to buy.
After making many changes to Lear's initial specs, the plane was re-christened the Challenger in 1977. Lear fought their suggestions, but Canadair's design won and the first Challenger rolled out May 25, 1978 - 19 months after production began.
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