HondaJet

HondaJet made it's debut in 2005 at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh, Wis. with a demonstration flight that included several flybys and a perfect landing in front of a packed crowd of aviation enthusiasts.

The result of 19 years of research on small jet aircraft, HondaJet includes a series of innovations. The natural-laminar flow (NFL) wing and NLF fuselage nose were developed through extensive analyses and wind-tunnel testing.

These designs help HondaJet achieve a low drag coefficient.

HondaJet Courtesy Honda

The light six-place business jet, called for now the HondaJet, is slightly smaller than a Cessna CJ1 and, based on Honda’s projections, faster, too - 420 knots at cruise. Maximum range is around 1,100 nm. The HondaJet features a unified composite structure and single-piece aluminum wing skins. The engines are mounted on pylons on the wing, which eliminates structure in the fuselage and allows more interior cabin space, up to 30 percent more, claims Honda.
 

These VLJ business jets will be mostly used for private jets, jet charters and fractional jet ownerships.

With the HondaJet - Honda decided to go with an unusual over-the-wing engine configuration, a feature developed on the Fokker VFW-614 decades earlier, which allows for more space within the fuselage and reduction in drag at higher speeds. The fuselage itself is made from lightweight composite materials, while the wings are made from structurally reinforced single sheets of aluminum. The use of a single sheet allows for a smoother surface than more conventional methods. The combination of light weight materials, aerodynamics, and the efficient engines, Honda claims gives the HondaJet a 40% higher fuel efficiency than other similar aircraft.

The aircraft is equipped with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system. Most of the cockpit readouts are presented on flat-panel flight displays.

The HA-420 HondaJet is an endeavor of the Honda Motor Company to develop a light corporate jet aircraft capable of intercontinental travel distances, but using much less fuel than existing aircraft. Honda has not revealed yet if the HondaJet will ever be put into production, though independent analysts consider it unlikely.

Many of these very light jets (VLJs) will also be used for air taxis aside from business jet charters and private jet ownership.