GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Prototype entry-level business aircraft flies at Greensboro
Honda has begun flight tests of its HondaJet prototype entry-level business jet. Although the company has yet to officially confirm that the aircraft flew for the first time on 3 December at Honda R&D Americas' facility at Greensboro-Piedmont Triad International airport in North Carolina, or to say anything about plans for production, an announcement is expected before year-end.
The HondaJet has a natural laminar-flow metal wing with overwing-mounted Honda HF-118 turbofans, and a composite fuselage with natural laminar-flow nose section. The configuration is designed to provide a larger cabin with lower drag than competing entry-level business jets. The wing has integrally machined skins for smoothness, while the overwing engines eliminate the structure required to carry fuselage-mounted engines and maximise cabin volume.
The T-tail aircraft has a 4,200kg (9,200lb) take-off weight, estimated 420kt (780km/h) maximum speed and 2,050km (1,100nm) maximum range. The digitally controlled HF-118 twin-spool turbofans are rated at 1,670lb (7.4kN) take-off thrust. The cabin can seat six passengers and can maintain an 8,000ft (2,400m) altitude up to 44,000ft. The cockpit is equipped with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics, with large-format flat-panel displays.
Source: Flight International