N731RA

This entry covers the specific Learjet airframe registered as N731RA, a Learjet 35A built in 1980 by Gates Learjet Corp. The airframe is owned and operated by Royal Air Freight, Inc., a corporate operator based in Waterford, MI, US, and is registered in the US. The aircraft's registry and corporate ownership tie it to regional cargo and charter operator activities; valuation records list the airframe at $960,000, reflecting its market position among late-production Learjet 35A examples.

The aircraft retains a typical operator-configurable executive cabin described as a 6–8-place executive layout (operator dependent), consistent with mixed passenger or light-cargo/utility mission fits. As a fleet asset of Royal Air Freight, Inc. based in Waterford, MI, US, the airframe is suited to mid-range corporate and on-demand charter missions or specialized freight/light cargo tasks within a roughly 1,930 nm radius at high cruise speeds near 418 kts and high-altitude operations up to 45,000 ft. Avionics and interior fit are operator dependent; maintenance considerations emphasize continued support for the twin TFE731 turbofan engines, each rated at approximately 3,500 lbf thrust, and airframe systems common to late-1970s/1980s Learjet 35A production.

The Learjet 35A family occupies a long-standing light business jet niche characterized by high cruise speed and transcontinental short-haul capability for up to eight occupants. In secondary markets, 1980-series airframes such as N731RA trade at values reflected by the listed $960,000, where buyer and charter demand balances operating economics, trip performance (notably 418 kts cruise and 1,930 nm range), and the availability of service support for the Honeywell/Garrett TFE731 engine series. Resale and maintenance considerations for this airframe emphasize engine and avionics overhauls, interior refurbishment, and regulatory compliance tied to corporate registry and operator mission profiles.