Honda
Aircraft Company held a press conference today at the European Business
Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland to announce further
development of the HondaJet.
"Honda Aircraft
Company's most important goals are achieving Federal Aviation Administration
Type Certification and delivering the first customer aircraft," said Honda
Aircraft Company President and chief executive officer Michimasa Fujino.
"Our total effort is focused on reaching these much anticipated milestones
in the first quarter of 2015."
Honda
Aircraft Company LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc. It was founded in 2006, though has its heritage in more than 20 years of
ground-breaking aeronautical research and development.
HondaJet
is said to be the world's most advanced light business jet aircraft, with
best-in-class advantages in performance, comfort, quality and efficiency. The
HondaJet is claimed to be the fastest, highest-flying, quietest, and most
fuel-efficient jet in its class. It incorporates many technological innovations
in aviation design, including the unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM)
configuration that is claimed to “dramatically improve performance and fuel
efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag”.
As
certification and flight testing continues, the first production HondaJet is in
final assembly with the first set of production GE Honda HF120 engines
installed. Following engine installation, Honda Aircraft will conduct ground
tests on the aircraft with its first flight anticipated this summer.
Production
moves forward with nine aircraft already on the assembly line. This steady
build-up supports Honda Aircraft Company's objective to have aircraft ready for
delivery immediately after type certification is achieved next year.
The
first production aircraft to come off the assembly line will debut a new
exterior paint scheme of deep pearl green with a gold stripe. The new colour
will be offered in addition to silver, red, yellow and blue exterior finishes.
In
addition to preparing the aircraft themselves, Honda Aircraft is putting
significant effort and investment into flight and maintenance training for
customers. Working with FlightSafety International, Honda Aircraft is currently
developing pilot and maintenance training curriculums with classes scheduled to
begin later this year in the US.
"Honda
Aircraft Company, along with our worldwide network of dealers and suppliers,
are working together to support the seamless transition to customers,"
said Fujino. "Our goal is to have everything ready before the first
delivery. We are committed through our network to deliver the best ownership
experience from day one."
Moreover,
Honda Aircraft's 1,000th member of the workforce team member joined the company
this year. The company's growing workforce represent more than 43 countries and
represents the aviation industry's top talent.
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 powered by two highly fuel-efficient GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet
engines, and is equipped with the most sophisticated glass flight deck
available in any light business jet, a Honda-customized Garmin G3000
next-generation, all-glass avionics system composed of three 14-inch
landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers. The HondaJet is
Honda's first commercial aircraft and lives up to the company's reputation for
superior performance, efficiency, quality and value.
The
company claims that the challenging spirit upon which Mr. Soichiro Honda
founded Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is alive today as Honda Aircraft fulfils one of
Honda's longstanding dreams to advance human mobility skyward. ∎
No comments:
Post a Comment