N417BA

This airframe, registered as N417BA, is a 1979-built Learjet 35A with serial number 35-257. It is listed on U.S. registry to the corporation ROYAL AIR FREIGHT INC, based in Waterford, Michigan, and has been operated from that home base for corporate charter and freight-support roles. The jet retains its Learjet heritage through Gates Learjet and subsequent Bombardier lineage and is valued in recent listings at approximately $960,000. Registered as a corporate operator in the United States, the airframe’s condition and retrofits influence its market and operational profile.

The cabin of this Learjet 35A is commonly configured in a typical executive club/divan arrangement accommodating 6–8 passengers in standard trim, although registry entries report up to 10 seats for this airframe, reflecting potential charter or commuter layouts and cargo/charter conversions. Avionics vary airframe to airframe; many Learjet 35/35A examples—including this model—have seen Collins ProLine installations or retrofits with GPS/FMS and ADS‑B Out upgrades to meet modern airspace requirements. Typical missions for N417BA include short to medium-range executive charter, light cargo or freight-support flights from its Waterford, MI operator base, exploiting the airframe’s high cruise speed and transcontinental range in the light jet category. Maintenance considerations mirror classic TFE731-powered Learjets, with lifecycle costs and avionics update history factoring heavily into dispatch reliability and resale condition.

The Learjet 35A family occupies a long-standing niche for high-speed, light-twin business jets with a high-altitude capability and competitive cruise performance. Competing models historically include other light jets with similar transcontinental range and seating capacities; buyer and charter demand often focuses on airframe condition, engine score, and avionics modernization. For N417BA, the combination of original 1979 manufacture, TFE731-2 powerplants, and registry-reported seating makes maintenance, parts availability and documented upgrades pivotal to resale value and continued operational viability.