Honda to begin sales of HondaJet
Honda is to begin production of its groundbreaking HondaJet in a new business alliance with Piper Aircraft. The result of 20 years of aviation research and built from the ground-up by Honda, HondaJet features several innovations including a patented over-the-wing engine-mount configuration, a natural-laminar flow (NLF) wing and fuselage nose, and an advanced all-composite fuselage structure.
These help it achieve far better fuel efficiency, larger cabin and luggage space and higher cruise speed than conventional aircraft in its ‘very light jet’ class.
“Aviation has been an important dream of Honda for more than four decades,” said Satoshi Toshida, senior managing director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. “Our goal is consistent with the philosophy of other Honda products – to provide convenient and efficient transportation that will make people’s lives better. We are excited now to enter a new dimension of mobility.”
Honda will collaborate with Piper Aircraft in sales and service as well as exploring opportunities in engineering and other areas within general and business aviation.
“Honda is a company with a rich heritage of bringing high quality, innovative products to market,” said James K. Bass, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft, Inc. “This business alliance is a perfect fit given the commitment both Piper and Honda have to providing our respective customers with world class products and services. Piper is very excited about this alliance and the way it complements our vision for the future.”
Honda will be in a position to accept orders for the HondaJet in autumn this year with production commencing in approximately three to four years.
HondaJet Basic Design Specifications
Seating: 6-7 (2 crew + 5 passengers –or– 1 pilot + 6 passengers)
Maximum Speed: 778 km/hr (420 knots)
Engine: HF-118 Turbofan Engine – x 2
Length x Width x Height: 12.67 x 12.2 x 4.1 m (41.6 x 39.9 x 13.2 ft)
Operational Ceiling: 12,497 m (41,000 ft)
Range: 2,037 km (1,100 nm)
Honda aviation – a brief history
1986: Honda begins research in Japan on both small aircraft and jet engines.
1993: Honda begins research on composite body aircraft with Mississippi State University (MSU), leading to development of aircraft called “MH-02” that is jointly fabricated and tested by Honda and MSU. Research continues until 1996.
1995: Honda begins high altitude testing of its first generation turbofan engine, HFX-01, conducting more than 70hours of tests through 1996.
1999: Development begins of the HF118 turbofan jet engine in the 1,000 to 3,500-pound thrust class. Compact, lightweight, low emission, fuel efficient.
2000: Honda R&D Americas establishes a research facility at Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina in October 2000 for the purpose of researching, fabricating and flight testing of HondaJet.
2002: Honda conducts high altitude tests of the HF118 engine starting in June 2002.
Honda publishes and reports its first technical paper in June 2002 concerning technological achievements of the new airframe. Honda continues publishing technical papers, with the most recent paper in June 2005.
2003: HondaJet takes first test flight, December 3, 2003. Honda makes first public announcement of the achievement days later.
2004: Honda and GE Aviation announce February 16, 2004, an alliance to commercialize the HF 118 engine, and establish a joint venture, GE-Honda Aero Engines, LLC, in October 2004, to pursue the development, production and sales of Honda’s HF118 turbofan engine in the light business jet market.
In July 2004, Honda establishes Honda Aero, Inc. to manage its aircraft engine business in the U.S. and the Wako Nishi R&D Center in Japan to research and develop turbofan jet and piston aviation engines.
2005: HondaJet makes its public “world debut” at the EAA AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 28, 2005.
2006: Honda announces that it will commercialize HondaJet at the EAA AirVenture 2006 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 25, 2006.
