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Honda HA-420 HondaJet

2016 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of the Honda HA-420 HondaJet

The new HA-420 'HondaJet' is an entry-level light business/VIP jet developed by Honda Aircraft. The proof-of-concept first flew in 2003, and the HondaJet program officially launched three years later - culminating in an all-new light jet to compete with the likes of the US's Cessna and Brazil's Embraer.

The HondaJet was officially launched in January 2016, about five years before its expected certification date (originally 2009-2010). Still, the small jet marks the start of what will likely be a family of light jets operated by Honda Motor Co.'s aircraft division.

The HondaJet was designed by Michimasa Fujino, an aerospace engineer who currently serves as president of Honda's Aircraft Division, which employs more than 1,200 people based in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The HondaJet is a technological achievement in its own right, taking advantage of new proven aeronautical qualities that in some ways make it a very unique entry-level light jet. One of the key physical design features is the "on the wing" mounted engine nacelles developed with the help of General Electric (GE) from the original Honda HF118 product.

The new engines produce 2,050 pounds of thrust, and the plane places two of them in separate nacelles on pylons aft of each main plane.

The locations of these engines were chosen using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), which determines the optimal placement of the thrusters, which reduces high-speed drag and increases the maximum lift coefficient (natural lift produced). Their placement along the wings also gives engineers much-needed "elbow room" in the fuselage area, giving even the most discerning VIP guests a longer, quieter cabin. The engine itself promises lower noise, high-end performance and fuel efficiency, but at the cost of higher takeoff speeds and longer takeoff times.

Tricycle landing gear is provided for ground operation, all legs are single wheel.

Special attention has also been paid to the wings - they are made of aluminium alloys (rather than composites) for maximum airflow efficiency and strength. The rear is constructed of aluminium (semi-monocoque) and is arranged in a traditional "T", allowing a horizontal plane to eliminate the resulting engine wash.

The low-drag nose cone is a specially designed component that promotes solid laminar flow along tubular fuselage sections, and its composite structure reduces weight. Dimensions of the aircraft include an overall length of 42.6 feet, a wingspan of 39.8 feet and a height of 14.10 feet.

2 x GE Honda Aero Engines HF120 turbofan engines combine with the aircraft's streamlined, striking design to deliver a top speed of 485 mph at 435 mph while cruising. The ferry has a range of up to 1,500 miles, a climb rate of 4,000 feet per minute, and a service ceiling of 43,000 feet.

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is approximately 10,000 lbs.

Inside, the HondaJet can accommodate one or two people (side by side). As part of the Garmin 3000 avionics customization, three large-area, full-color touchscreen displays show clean cockpit lines, and each pilot's seat has relatively good visibility from the cockpit.

The standard passenger layout includes two opposing seats along the center aisle. Another seating arrangement accommodates six people. In both variants, passengers are in a luxurious setting with high-back leather seats.

Although only a dozen HondaJets have been completed to date (2016), the product is sure to grab some attention and generate market interest for customers and businesses who can afford $4. $5 million manned transport. Honda's Greensboro manufacturing facility is ready to support up to 12 dies in production.