With its Learjet 25 in widespread service, Gates began to plan an improved type that appeared for a first flight in January 1973 as the Learjet 26 prototype for the Learjet 30 series. By comparison with the Learjet 25 and its General Electric CJ610 turbojets, the Learjet 26 introduced an enlarged airframe and Garrett TFE731 turbofans. The two production model to emerge from the program were the Learjet 35 with accommodation for eight passengers and the Learjet 36 with fuel capacity but accommodation for only six passengers. But both model entered service late in 1974, and soon secured considerable commercial success. Gates also offered to models in upgraded form on the military market and secured small but nonetheless useful orders. Most aircraft were sold for VIP transport, liaison, and medical evacuation to the government and paramilitary agencies, but there were also limited sales to military forces of special role variants optimized for aerial survey, maritime patrol, target towing, reconnaissance, and electronic countermeasures training task.