Three public debuts dominated this year’s AirVenture show, with Honda pondering whether to launch its prototype
The spotlight at Oshkosh, Wisconsin fell first on the Eclipse 500, then moved to the Cessna Citation Mustang and finally settled on the HondaJet as all three aircraft made their public debuts last week at AirVenture, the world’s largest aviation convention.
Now in its 51st year, the show that was originally for home-builders has evolved into the leading forum for general aviation. “We announced the aircraft here and we had the first public demonstration here,” says Eclipse Aviation, which is leading the very light jet (VLJ) market with 2,300 orders for its $1.2 million aircraft. With just over 200h flying accumulated and certification planned for March 2006, two flight-test Eclipse 500s were flown to Oshkosh. The aircraft recently achieved its service ceiling of 41,000ft (12,500m) and maximum operating speed of 285kt (530km/h).
Cessna, meanwhile, displayed its prototype Citation Mustang. The aircraft first flew on 23 April and has accumulated more than 170h. “Our test pilots say it’s the best prototype we’ve built,” says Cessna chief executive Jack Pelton. The Mustang will be certificated as a single-pilot aircraft with a cruise speed of 340kt and the maximum operating altitude of 41,000ft.
The $2.2 million Mustang has 240 orders, with the first delivery in the fourth quarter of 2006. The production line in Independence, Kansas, should start in the fourth quarter of this year, Pelton says.
Whether the larger HondaJet will be a challenger is yet to be seen. “Many ask the price,” says project manager Kawabe Shun. “We explain this is a prototype and not for release.” No application for certification is pending and Honda insists it has not decided whether to enter the market. The aircraft is being used to gauge market reaction, the company says: “And so far reaction has been extremely positive. Who knows what the future holds?”
The HondaJet’s cabin is 30% larger than others in its class and fuel efficiency is claimed to be 40% better, due to the Honda-designed HF118 turbofans, the low-drag natural laminar-flow wing and nose, and the placement of the engines above the wing rather than on the fuselage, removing the need for extra structure.
The aircraft is about 44 flight hours short of what the company says it needs to verify performance claims.
The public will benefit from the competition in the VLJ market, US transportation secretary Norman Mineta said after seeing the Eclipse. “The economy is growing and people have disposable income,” he said. “When aeroplanes like this become available, it just advances everything.”
JEFFREY DECKER/OSHKOSH
Source: Flight International
