-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HcKJ2OYiXusDguQDNd4JzkUaVBq2DJSeNSs+SQ1Pt3Pr9fNNQ9/b70newt+WIjEK
 YxIDy6mNC31FA05HjN2rkA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001385583-09-000005.txt : 20090424
<SEC-HEADER>0001385583-09-000005.hdr.sgml : 20090424
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090424180041
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001385583-09-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090424
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090424
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090424

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Forsyth Bradley Stewart
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001385583

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15369
		FILM NUMBER:		09770790

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		773 SAN MARIN DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2215
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94998

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018164
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5080]
		IRS NUMBER:				680070656
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		773 SAN MARIN DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2215
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94998
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154084700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		773 SAN MARIN DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2215
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94998
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001018164</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>wlfcp</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001385583</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Forsyth Bradley Stewart</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>773 SAN MARIN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2215</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NOVATO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94998</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2009-04-24</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bradley S. Forsyth</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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