The New Honda Jets

After more than 20 years of meticulous preparation, the HondaJet is finally in position for commercial takeoff, with the first plane expected to be delivered this year.

The project has drawn considerable attention with this being Honda Motor’s first venture into aviation. Honda has long been a disruptive force in the auto and appliance industry so it certainly does lead people to have high expectations of their new proposition.

The jet concept from Honda isn’t actually that new as a prototype did first fly in 2003 and orders started to be taken for the $3.7-million HondaJet in 2006. Repeated delays of one kind or another have held the project back and fueled skepticism among industry observers about whether customers would ever receive an end product but according to Honda they will be delivered in the coming months

The HondaJet has a range of new technologies that the automaker devised to set it apart from other jets such as an improvement to performance, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort within the VLJ-aircraft class.

“The most significant of HondaJet’s many breakthroughs is the unique, over-the-wing engine mount configuration,” Mendel said. “It’s engineered and proven by Honda after more than 20 years of extensive research and development. This design makes HondaJet the fastest, the highest flying and – typical Honda – the most fuel efficient aircraft in its class.”

Most business jets have engines on the rear of the fuselage however the two jet engines used to propel the HondaJet are mounted on the wings. Honda said the design has not only offered better fuel economy and a higher top speed but it also gives more cabin space.

With the industry mounting an engine on the main wing was considered a bad idea for business jets due to the aerodynamic drag between the main wing and the nacelle which covers the engine.

Mounting an engine on the main wing was not an easy task and the company had to take into account drag, vibration characteristics and account steering stability. After detailed research they realized they could not only produce such a design but the change of mounting the jets would improve performance and comfort.

Honda has always been at the forefront of innovation and you can tell when entering the aviation industry they knew this would certainly be the case and their offering would have to be superior.

Most recently, Hondas first flight simulator was delivered to the HondaJet Training Center at the company’s headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., and is currently being installed. The Greensboro plant has already begun assembly work, with an operating pace of 80 units per year.

The HondaJet is now facing final checks from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration before its long awaited delivery to customers later this year.