content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001033309</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
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      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001018164</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORP</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-15369</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>4700 LYONS TECHNOLOGY PARKWAY</com:street1>
          <com:city>COCONUT CREEK</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33073</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>5613499989</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>WILLIS CHARLES F IV</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>10% Stockholder</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner &amp; Smith Inc</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>555 California Street FL 18</com:street1>
            <com:city>San Francisca</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>94104</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>7500</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>336198.31</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>6367912</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>11/15/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>04/01/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>7500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>04/01/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Willis Charles F IV</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>4700 Lyons Technology Parkway</com:street1>
            <com:city>Coconut Grove</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>33073</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>11/09/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>3000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>129008.36</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Willis Charles F IV</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>4700 Lyons Technology Parkway</com:street1>
            <com:city>Coconut Grove</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>33073</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>08/23/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2726</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>118759.28</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>11/15/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>Charles F Willis IV</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
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text: 144
  0001033309
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001018164
  WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORP
  001-15369
  4700 LYONS TECHNOLOGY PARKWAY
  COCONUT CREEK
  FL
  33073
  5613499989
  WILLIS CHARLES F IV
  Officer
  Director
  10% Stockholder
  Common Stock
  Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc
  555 California Street FL 18
  San Francisca
  CA
  94104
  7500
  336198.31
  6367912
  11/15/2023
  NASDAQ
  Common Stock
  04/01/2021
  Restricted Stock Units
  Issuer
  N
  7500
  04/01/2021
  Compensation
  N
  Willis Charles F IV
  4700 Lyons Technology Parkway
  Coconut Grove
  FL
  33073
  Common
  11/09/2023
  3000
  129008.36
  Willis Charles F IV
  4700 Lyons Technology Parkway
  Coconut Grove
  FL
  33073
  Common
  08/23/2023
  2726
  118759.28
  11/15/2023
  Charles F Willis IV