Honda Enters Jet Business

[webby]

credit to: peliROJO for the find.

DETROIT, Michigan -- Japanese automaker Honda has said it is entering the corporate jet business with a line of aircraft manufactured in the United States.

The bright blue-and-white, seven-seat HondaJet was revealed at the annual air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, late Tuesday morning, one year after making its debut at the same show.

The jet will have a wing-mounted engine design that promises better fuel economy.

The HondaJet can travel up to 415 mph (667 kph), the company has said.

Tokyo-based Honda would be creating a new U.S.-based company in hopes of gaining "FAA-type certification" in three to four years, the company said.

But the jets will be available for purchase by this [northern hemisphere] autumn.

Piper Aircraft will enter into an alliance with Honda to sell the HondaJet line to U.S. customers.

The jet would compete in the market for an emerging class of very light passenger jets priced at under $4 million, The Associated Press reports.

In 2004, Honda and GE formed a strategic alliance making lightweight corporate jet engines.

Honda is best known for its motorbikes and cars, but has been working on its aircraft project for the past two decades, AP reports.

Very light jets have a limited range, but proponents say their lower acquisition and operating costs will sharply reduce the cost of private jet travel, opening that up as a choice for regional travel to a far broader market, AP reports.

But HondaJet is entering a crowded market, according to AP.

Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Eclipse Aviation is very near U.S. certification of its Eclipse 500 and Adam Aircraft, Textron Inc's Cessna and Brazil's Embraer SA, have rival aircraft in various stages of development and testing, AP reports.

[atruhondagrl]

Is it me or does that jet look like it's Fiji and Taffeta?

[Hyperite]

Do we have a price?

[aznives3]

The jet would compete in the market for an emerging class of very light passenger jets priced at under $4 million, The Associated Press reports.

[si_civic]

Wonder if you can get a CAI and reflash for these things.

[dentrecords]

I'm waiting for the DIY engine swap thread.

[aznives3]

i wonder if it comes with asimo flight attendants

[fhound258]

hahahahahaha this thread is too funny

[rpm8000plus]

"...Now We're Flying" video here (not for dial up:) ):


http://world.honda.com/jet/

[carlschmidt]

My dad is there right now at Oshkosh, though I don't know if he went to their exhibit. I was talking to him about this because I saw the jet on Honda's website a little while back, and he told me it was at Oshkosh last year (or perhaps even two years ago, whenever the last time he went was; sorry, I forget...).

He figures their entry into the market has a bit to do with business people who can afford this range of jet not wanting to be caught in the commercial airline troubles.

It's a slick looking jet.

[Scourge]

I wonder what it'll be like when VTEC kicks in. SONIC BOOM!

"Please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts as we will soon hit VTEC."

[Retread]

http://www.hpe.com/index.php?pSetup=...e=art&index=01

[bizzybearfigiblue]

some updated info... also this jet will be priced around $3.7million

Originally Posted by webby

Honda Aircraft Company Reveals New HondaJet Interior Design and Sales Network Developments at 2007 NBAA Convention

– New HondaJet Interior designed by Honda’s U.S. R&D Operations –

- Standalone dealer facilities to feature full-size hangar –

– Flight Safety International to develop HondaJet pilot training program –


ATLANTA, U.S.A., September 25, 2007– Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., announced a series of major advancements to HondaJet design and to the HondaJet sales and service network at the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. The company showcased a completely new interior design concept for the advanced light jet, along with new exterior color scheme studies, and an animated tour of the exclusive HondaJet sales and service facilities.

HondaJet 1/4 scale model

Honda Aircraft Company also announced a partnership with Flight Safety International to create a new flight simulator and pilot training program for HondaJet.

New Interior Concept
HondaJet’s new interior concept was introduced with a special focus on human fit, ergonomic efficiency and safety for the customer. Honda has created a cabin environment befitting the company’s reputation for world-class engineering and attention to detail in the quality of materials, design and construction.

HondaJet’s new cockpit design incorporated learning from extensive study on the human factors of pilots and pays special attention to the layout. The production version of HondaJet will also incorporate an all-glass avionics package developed for HondaJet by Garmin®.

Honda also provided a glimpse into potential additional production colors, with colors on display including a brilliant HondaJet Silver Metallic ; a rich HondaJet Red; as well as versions in HondaJet Green and HondaJet Yellow.


“From the beginning, it has been our goal to bring new value to the field of aviation,” said Michimasa Fujino, president & CEO, Honda Aircraft Company. “With a focus on innovation we will continue our efforts to deliver a product of outstanding performance, quality and comfort with the best sales and service operation to exceed customer expectations.”

Exclusive Dealer Network
For the first time, Honda Aircraft Company showed its proposed design specifications for standalone HondaJet sales and service dealer facilities that will be established throughout the United States over the next several years. The facilities will feature a large hangar for service operations and will be designed to provide a new level of customer sales and service support in the light jet class.

New Pilot Training Simulator
As part of its continuing commitment to safety, Honda Aircraft Company announced that it has established a partnership with Flight Safety International (FSI) to conduct the HondaJet pilot training program, including the development of a Level-D full motion flight simulator for HondaJet. The first simulator will be installed at Honda Aircraft Company’s new headquarters facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. Additional training facilities will be established in the future as HondaJet sales grow.

Update on Type Certification
The company also provided an update on FAA type certification for HondaJet. Working closely with the FAA, Honda Aircraft Company anticipates its first test flight of a conforming model in early 2009, with the overall timetable calling for the on schedule achievement of type certification in 2010.

About HondaJet
HondaJet, Honda's first-ever commercial aircraft, lives up to the company's reputation for dynamic performance together with superior efficiency, delivering class-topping cruise speed and fuel efficiency, greater luggage capacity and a more spacious cabin with seating for up to eight people, compared to other products in the very light jet (VLJ) class. All major assembly and testing of the prototype HondaJet has been conducted at the company's existing Greensboro, North Carolina facility, which opened in 2001 as an extension of Honda's global R&D operations.

In late June, Honda broke ground for a new facility in Greensboro that will replace the company's existing complex. Phase one of construction will be completed in spring 2008, and will consist of offices, research facilities and an airplane hangar. The HondaJet production facility is currently in the design phase, with construction planned to begin following the completion of the headquarters. The company is on target to begin deliveries of HondaJet to customers in 2010.

Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Founded in Japan in 1948, Honda began operations in the U.S. in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary.

[Civicduty07]

http://www.avcorp.com/section.asp?ca...186&pageid=221

The company I work for (Avcorp) will be supplying the structural wing subassembly.

[bizzybearfigiblue]

thanx for the info Civicduty07

[bizzybearfigiblue]

here's some pix from Honda Jet's website...




this one is currently my desktop background...

[samx109]

oh that's hot

[samx109]

Originally Posted by dentrecords

I'm waiting for the DIY engine swap thread.

HAHAHA

[Civicduty07]

The HondaJet website is full of cool info. You should take a look at the Timeline. There's a small video of them testing the wing. Thats a good looking aircraft.

[Chevelle]

Bad ass jet, someone needs to call Hondata and tell them to hurry up and release Kpro for it cause I'm sure the reflash is gonna suck since it won't adjust the a/f ratio.