Learjet 35Gates Learjet 35 airplane model. The Learjet 35 was a stretched Model 25 with an eight seat cabin and was complemented by the long range Model 36. Promising lower noise levels and greater fuel economy than the Model 25, the first Learjet 35 took to the air on August 22, 1973. The Learjet 35 carried a maximum of eight passengers and, with reduced payload, had a transcontinental range, and the Learjet 36 carried up to six passengers but with the ability