Media reports and a state politician in North Carolina are fuelling rumours that GE Honda Aero Engines this week or next will announce the location of a new production plant to build the HF120 engine, the turbofan that will power the HondaJet and the Spectrum Aeronautical "Freedom" business jet.
GE Honda says the site selection has been narrowed down to the "last two to three sites" and a decision will be made in the next two or three months.
A state lawmaker, however, has told a local newspaper that the Burlington-Alamance airport, 47km (30 miles) east of Honda's future 20,000m2 (215,000ft2) HondaJet production plant at Piedmont-Triad airport near Greensboro, will be the final choice.
State representative Cary Allred, whose district includes Burlington-Alamance airport, was unavailable to verify his sources, although he reportedly received the information from senior state transport officials. When finished by year's end, the Greensboro production plant will be Honda's 17th major manufacturing facility in the North America.
The partner companies plan to certify the 2,050lb-thrust (10.5kN) engine by 2009 and say they will produce as many as 140 engines a year at the plant.
The HF120 is based on the Honda HF118, on which Honda accumulated more than 4,000h of testing on the ground and in flight. With GE, Honda has redesigned the engine for higher thrust and better fuel performance, noise and emissions.
GE Honda will shortly complete a series of engine core tests after implementing new design enhancements based on the HF118 experience, including a redesigned compressor, combustor and high-pressure turbine, and plans a full engine run in July. The company is building seven engines for the certification programme, which starts in 2008.
Both Honda and Spectrum plan to certificate their aircraft in 2010.
Related articles:
- GE Honda Aero Engines puts HF120 on trial
- Avcorp, GKN to supply wing and fuselage for ground-breaking HondaJet
Source: FlightGlobal.com
