Honda Aircraft Company Begins HondaJet Deliveries

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Dec. 23, 2015 — Honda Aircraft Company today announced it has begun deliveries of the HondaJet, the world’s most advanced light jet. The company delivered the first aircraft today at its world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina. This milestone follows final type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which the HondaJet received on Dec. 8. 

“We are very excited to commence deliveries of the HondaJet, fulfilling Honda’s commitment to advancing human mobility through innovation,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Honda Aircraft has now extended this commitment skyward with the delivery of our first aircraft, and I hope we soon will begin to see many HondaJets at airports around the world.” 

Honda Aircraft Company is manufacturing the HondaJet at its world headquarters in Greensboro. The aircraft is offered for sale in North America, South America and Europe through the HondaJet dealer network.

To support HondaJet customers, Honda Aircraft has established a robust worldwide dealer network in 11 territories. HondaJet dealers are ready to support aircraft entry into service, together with a 90,000 square-foot customer service facility in Greensboro to support the dealer network with heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities.

Pilot training is already being conducted for HondaJet customers with a full-motion, Level D flight simulator installed at the Honda Aircraft Training Center in Greensboro.

The HondaJet is the world’s most advanced light jet, with revolutionary technology and design innovations—including the Over-The-Wing Engine Mount design—that help it achieve the highest speed, superior fuel efficiency, and a more spacious cabin over conventional aircraft in its class.

For more information about the HondaJet, visit www.HondaJet.com.

About HondaJet
The HondaJet is the fastest, highest-flying, quietest, and most fuel-efficient jet in its class. The HondaJet incorporates many technological innovations in aviation design, including the unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration that dramatically improves performance and fuel efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag. The OTWEM design also reduces cabin sound, minimizes ground-detected noise, and allows for the roomiest cabin in its class, the largest baggage capacity, and a fully serviceable private aft lavatory. The HondaJet is equipped with the most sophisticated glass flight deck available in any light business jet, a Honda-customized Garmin^® G3000. The HondaJet is Honda's first commercial aircraft and lives up to the company’s reputation for superior performance, efficiency, quality and value.

About Honda Aircraft Company
Honda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft’s world headquarters is located in North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation. The challenging spirit upon which Mr. Soichiro Honda founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfills one of Honda’s longstanding dreams to advance human mobility skyward.

Source;
https://www.hondajet.com/news/article?categoryType=922b6d12-370f-483f-b352-d963d84dc4ad&articleType=pressrelease#0

Honda shows new business jet in Japan

TOKYO (AP) — Honda, known for making motorcycles and cars, is showing its new sleek business jet in Japan for the first time, billing it as quiet, quick and green.

The jet, on show at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Thursday, is the culmination of founder Soichiro Honda's longtime dream to have a plane in Honda Motor Co.'s lineup.

Honda Aircraft Chief Michimasa Fujino told reporters he hopes it will become available within a few years in Japan, where regulation means the private jet market is almost nonexistent.

A HondaJet is displayed at the venue of a press conference at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Thursday, April 23, 2015. Honda, known for making motorcycles and cars, is showing its new sleek business jet in Japan for the first time, billing it as quiet, quick and green. The jet, on show at the airport on Thursday, is the culmination of founder Soichiro Honda's longtime dream to have a plane in Honda Motor Co.'s lineup. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Currently, the jet is on sale in the United States and Europe.

The jet, which seats six or seven, starts at $4.5 million. Honda has received 100 orders, and deliveries are likely to begin later this year.

"I know people are working hard for deregulation," Fujino told reporters. "It won't happen immediately but there is a chance in the long run."

He said Japanese government officials and others for whom saving time is critical should use such jets and fight the "fat cat image" of flying on executive jets.

Potential is also great for China and the rest of Asia, where demand is likely to overtake South America's by 2020, Fujino said.

Development of a jet began in 1986 at Honda, several years before the death of its founder in 1991.
The HondaJet, as it is called, whose design was based on a Salvatore Ferragamo high-heel shoe, rolled into a hangar at Haneda.

The aircraft, built in North Carolina, is set to fly into other airports in Japan, including Sendai and Kobe, before heading to an aviation show in Geneva Switzerland.

Fujino said the HondaJet adheres to top safety standards and outperforms the equivalent offerings from Cessna of the U.S. and Embraer of Brazil in fuel efficiency and altitude that it can reach.

Honda is out to change the aviation industry in the same way it changed American auto culture, Fujino said.
Honda was instrumental in influencing U.S. auto tastes with its Accord and other popular nifty models offering excellent mileage.

Honda already makes cars, boats, lawn mowers, scooters and the Asimo robot. The HondaJet marks its foray into aviation.

"To offer personal mobility in the skies was the dream of Soichiro Honda and the dream of us Honda men," said Honda President Takanobu Ito. "Today is a symbolic day."

The HondaJet arrives at Tokyo's Haneda airport Thursday, April 23, 2015. Honda, known for making motorcycles and cars, is showing its new sleek business jet in Japan for the first time, billing it as quiet, quick and green. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

The HondaJet parks at a hangar at Tokyo's Haneda airport Thursday, April 23, 2015. Honda, known for making motorcycles and cars, is showing its new sleek business jet in Japan for the first time, billing it as quiet, quick and green. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)  A HondaJet is displayed at the venue of a press conference at a hangar at Tokyo's Haneda airport Thursday, April 23, 2015. Honda, known for making motorcycles and cars, is showing its new sleek business jet in Japan for the first time, billing it as quiet, quick and green. The jet, on show at the airport on Thursday, is the culmination of founder Soichiro Honda's longtime dream to have a plane in Honda Motor Co.'s lineup. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

 

 

A HondaJet, top, flies over Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Thursday, April 23, 2015. Honda, known for making motorcycles and cars, is showing its new sleek business jet in Japan for the first time, billing it as quiet, quick and green. The jet, on show at the airport on Thursday, is the culmination of founder Soichiro Honda's longtime dream to have a plane in Honda Motor Co.'s lineup. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Source;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3051940/Honda-shows-new-business-jet-Japan.html

HondaJet Achieves Type Inspection Authorization

Honda Aircraft has received the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) certificate for its HondaJet from the FAA, the company said Friday Dec. 20. 

 

TIA approval means the new aircraft is ready for FAA pilots to begin performing onboard flight tests required for certification.  During the final testing phase, nose-to-tail FAA review will clear the jet for type certification in the U.S. allowing the company to begin making the first deliveries to customers. 

 

The agency also recently approved the HF120 turbofan, the engine that powers the HondaJet.

 

Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft, called the TIA approval a "tremendous milestone" for his company. 

 

“We have been working closely with the FAA to finalize our certification schedule for the HondaJet,” said Fujino. “Based on the recent FAA type certification of the HF120 turbofan engine and this TIA milestone achievement, we can expect aircraft type certification in the first quarter of 2015 with deliveries following immediately after.”

Source;
http://www.aviationtoday.com/the-checklist/HondaJet-Achieves-Type-Inspection-Authorization_80935.html#.Urmnb_sUaEo