N870CK

This entry describes the single airframe bearing US registration N870CK, a 1978-built Learjet 35A with manufacturer serial number 35-170. Built by Gates Learjet Corporation, the airframe is owned and operated by the corporate entity KALITTA CHARTERS LLC, based in Ypsilanti, MI, US; the aircraft is registered in the United States to that company and appears in operator records as a corporate charter asset. The registration and corporate ownership tie this airframe to commercial charter and support operations out of its Michigan home base. The airframe’s assessed market value is $846,129, reflecting typical valuations for late-1970s Learjet 35A examples in active commercial service.

The cabin of this specific Learjet 35A is noted as supporting typical executive or mission-adapted configurations, with layouts described as 6–8 passenger executive arrangements or 8–10 seat configurations depending on charter or medevac mission requirements. Avionics on this airframe conform to the legacy Collins/ProLine‑style suites common to Learjet 35A examples, though operator retrofits may vary and influence operational capacity and avionics currency. Typical mission profiles for N870CK would include short to mid‑range high-speed charter flights, on-demand medical evacuation missions when configured, and regional business transport operating from its Ypsilanti, Michigan base; maintenance considerations follow long‑standing support practices for late-production Learjet 35As and their TFE731 series turbofan engines.

The Learjet 35A family occupies a performance niche as a light, high‑speed twinjet with transcontinental range capability for its class, offering high cruise speed and a 45,000 ft service ceiling. Competing models in the era and secondary market include other light business jets with similar speed/range tradeoffs; buyer and charter demand for Learjet 35A airframes typically centers on operators valuing payload‑adjustable cabins and proven turbofan reliability. Resale and maintenance considerations for this airframe reflect age‑related avionics retrofit needs, engine life‑limit and shop visit scheduling for the Garrett (Honeywell) TFE731 engines, and market pricing consistent with the stated valuation.