Honda seems to want to put some of that high revving V-TEC magic into the skies as the Japanese announced that their innovative HondaJet will enter the growing light jet market, with the process of accepting sales orders in the U.S. in fall 2006. Toward this goal, Honda will establish a new U.S. company to hold FAA type certification and production certification. Honda’s goal is to complete type certification in about 3-4 years, followed by the start of production in the U.S.| Basic Design Specifications | |
| Seating | 2 crew + 5 pass/ers or 1 pilot + 6 pass/ers |
| 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) |
"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."
"In Piper we believe we have a partner we can collaborate with in our effort to bring new value to customers in the very light jet market,"said Toshida.
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.
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.
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. HondaJet has achieved an altitude of 43,000 feet and a speed of 412 knots
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