When you think of Honda, the first thing that comes to mind is its cars, motorcycles, and engines, but what you may not know is that Honda also has an aircraft division that specializes in the development and production of ultralight business jets, the HondaJet. Since deliveries began in 2015, the aircraft has been widely recognized and welcomed around the world, becoming another innovation for Honda.
The origins of Honda's aircraft business can be traced back to 1962, when Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda, announced his vision to enter the aviation field. He believes that airplanes are the most advanced means of human mobility and the highest performance of Honda's technology. To achieve this vision, Honda officially launched the private jet research and development program in 1986, and after 20 years of exploration and experimentation, finally launched the first prototype in 2006 and completed its first flight in 2008. During this time, Honda also partnered with General Electric to develop the HF120 turbofan engine designed specifically for the HondaJet, which provided the aircraft with strong power and efficient fuel economy.
The Hondajet's biggest feature is its innovative design, which uses five world-leading innovations that make it a world-class space in a limited size, while being faster and using less fuel, making it popular all over the world. The five innovative technologies are:
Over-the-wing engine mount (OTWEM): This is a signature design of the HondaJet that mounts the engine above the wing, rather than behind the fuselage or under the wing like in traditional light jets. The advantage of this is that it suppresses the air resistance (shock wave) generated during high-speed flight, which can achieve higher speeds and lower fuel costs than other aircraft in its class, and because the engine support structure does not pass through the fuselage, it can also maximize the space inside the fuselage, providing a more spacious cabin and cargo compartment.
Natural Laminar Flow Wing (NLF): This is another innovative design of HondaJet, which allows the aircraft to maintain a longer laminar flow state when flying by precisely optimizing the shape and curvature of the wing, that is, the air flow is smoother, reducing turbulence and drag, thus improving flight efficiency and performance.
Natural Laminar Flow Nose (NLFN): This is HondaJet's third innovative design, which echoes the natural laminar flow wing, and through the precise optimization of the shape and curvature of the nose, the aircraft can maintain a longer laminar flow state during flight, reducing turbulence and drag, thereby improving flight efficiency and performance.
New Avionics System (Garmin G3000): This is HondaJet's fourth innovative design, which features an all-new avionics system consisting of three 14-inch LCD screens and two touchscreen controllers that provide advanced flight information and navigation while simplifying pilot operation and control, improving the safety and convenience of flight.
New Noise Attenuating Inlet Duct: This is HondaJet's fifth innovative design, which reduces engine noise through improvements to the engine inlet structure, improving cabin quietness and reducing environmental impact.
HondaJet not only innovates in design, but also makes a breakthrough in materials, it uses carbon composite materials as the main material of the fuselage, which has the advantages of light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, etc., which makes the appearance of the aircraft more beautiful, and also achieves lightweight, further improving flight efficiency and performance.
After years of R&D and flight testing, the HondaJet received type approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2015 and began to be officially delivered. Since then, HondaJet has successively obtained type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and 13 other countries and regions, and has delivered 250 aircraft worldwide, with a cumulative flight hour of more than 210,000 hours and dispatch reliability of more than 997%。The HondaJet has not only been favored by users in the market, but has also received several honors and awards in the industry, such as the "Best Light Jet" award from European **Iation Magazine in 2018 and the "Innovation Award" from Flying Magazine in 2019.
From the first HondaJet, to the 2018 HondaJet Elite, the 2021 Elite S, and the 2022 Elite II, each generation has improved performance, comfort and safety, such as increased range, expanded cabin space, improved cabin quietness, and equipped with an automatic throttle and emergency landing system. In addition, HACI announced in 2023 a commercialization decision for the HondaJet Echelon, a light business jet, with initial manufacturing of the first aircraft expected to begin in 2024, with the first flight scheduled for 2026 and type certification expected to be completed in 2028. The HondaJet Echelon will be a new twin-engine, twin-tail, six-seat business jet that will incorporate more advanced technology and design to provide users with a heightened flight experience.
As a technology-focused company, Honda has always been people-oriented and provides users with safe, secure, and free mobility. Honda's aircraft business is the highest expression of Honda's technology and Honda's contribution to human society. Honda will continue to challenge and innovate to bring more surprises and value to the aviation field. February** Dynamic Incentive Program