N888DS

This article covers airframe N888DS, a production Learjet 45 built by LEARJET INC in 2001 with manufacturer's serial number 165. The airframe is registered in the US and is recorded as owned by AIR PENINSULA CORP (a corporation based in Wilmington, DE, US); the aircraft is listed in corporate ownership without public record of multiple operator changes. As a 2001-model legacy Learjet 45, N888DS sits in a market tier where age, avionics fit and maintenance history drive valuation, and it is noted with an assessed value of $2,000,000 consistent with late-model legacy examples.

The cabin of this airframe follows the Learjet 45 executive convention, with Executive 8–12 place layouts common and an interior volume of ≈410 cu ft; typical configurations include double‑club seating, a forward galley and an aft lavatory as found in comparable examples. Avionics for legacy Learjet 45 examples typically comprise the Honeywell Primus family, a common fit that influences both operational capability and upgrade pathways. In service, missions for N888DS are consistent with corporate and charter light-medium range transport: transcontinental and regional hops within the aircraft’s 1,968 nm capability at a high-speed cruise of 445 kts, operating from bases consistent with its owner’s corporate location in Wilmington, DE, US. Maintenance considerations align with legacy Learjet schedules and the need for avionics and interior updates to maintain charter competitiveness.

The Learjet 45 occupies a niche for high-performance light midsize business jets, offering high cruise speeds and a 51,000 ft ceiling for efficient, fast point-to-point travel. Typical competitors include other light to midsize business jets that balance speed, cabin comfort and operating cost; buyer demand for 2001-era airframes centers on price, avionics status and maintenance records. Resale and maintenance considerations for N888DS reference its legacy Honeywell electronics, 2001 manufacture date and the assessed value of $2,000,000, which together frame typical overhaul, avionics retrofit and inspection requirements for continued corporate or charter use.