High Altitude Applications of the Gates Learjet

This paper describes two high altitude missions of the Gates Learjet at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. The first application involves the installation of an infrared telescope in support of NASA space exploration projects. The second application concerns the installation of single and dual camera modifications to the airplane for use in aerial mapping missions. Also included in the paper is a brief description of a proposed high altitude research vehicle (HARV) designed for flight operations at 60,000 feet.