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The New HondaJet
In December 2003, Honda officials announced that flight tests began on it’s
new aircraft, preliminarily named HondaJet. That’s right, I said jet!
Business class jet to be specific. Think there is no room in the corporate
jet market for another competitor? Think again. If you know anything at all
about Honda then you know that when they set out to design and build a new
product, they do it right. Honda is a world class company with a world class
reputation for being the best. From lawnmowers to automobiles, Honda does it
with class, and does it right the first time.
Although debatable by the automobile enthusiasts of the country, the Honda
Accord is still considered one of the best cars on the road for many years
running. My Honda lawnmower has been abused by every tree stump in my back
yard, and after all these years still starts on the first pull.
But enough about my enthusiasm for the company, lets talk about the plane.
Can Honda’s reputation alone help them to squeeze in beside Leer,
Gulfstream, Bombardier, Embraer, and Cessna? Will Honda’s obvious preclusion
for practicality help it to compete with the sheer luxury of a Gulfstream
G550? Or the sheer speed of the Citation X? No bones about it, Honda is
coming out with guns blazing. Complete with some new technology including
Honda’s new HF118 Turbofan Engine, state-of-the-art glass cockpit,
lightweight co-cured carbon composite structure, superior fuel efficiency
and remarkable cabin space, Honda is well equipped from the gate to compete.
The plane is exotic, ergonomic, eye appealing, economical, and practical.
Here’s what Honda has to say about it’s own aircraft:
"Compared with conventional jets, this experimental aircraft offers superior
fuel efficiency and remarkable cabin space. The engines are optimally
positioned on the upper surface of the main wing in a unique configuration
that reduces drag at high speeds and increases cruising efficiency. This
layout also eliminates the need for structural engine mounts in the
fuselage, creating over 30% more cabin space than in a conventional
aircraft.
The fuselage is a compact and lightweight co-cured carbon composite
structure, yet realizes the largest cabin in its class. The main wing, which
features aluminum skin panels formed from single sheets of aluminum that
provide a smoother surface than conventional wing configurations, along with
Honda's proprietary turbulence-reducing laminar airfoil, work together to
significantly improve aerodynamic performance. Additional drag-reducing
technologies include the fuselage nose, which is designed to generate
laminar flow. These features, in combination with Honda's fuel-efficient
HF118 Turbofan Engine, achieve fuel efficiency over 40% higher than
conventional aircraft.
This experimental aircraft is also fitted with a state-of-the-art glass
cockpit with an integrated avionics system, as well as an autopilot
function, anti-icing equipment, and other systems. The jet is scheduled to
undergo approximately 200 hours of flight-testing to demonstrate and verify
the operability and performance characteristics of its various systems.
Honda began research into compact business jets in 1986, using engines
provided by other manufacturers. The HF118 Turbofan Engine-equipped HondaJet
experimental compact jet is the first Honda-developed aircraft to be
outfitted with a Honda engine, a significant milestone for the company and
the industry."
Source: http://world.honda.com
Copyright, 2003 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
SPECIFICATIONS
Provisional name HondaJet
Seating 6 (2 crew + 4 passengers or 1 + 5)
Engine Honda HF118 Turbofan Engine
Maximum take-off thrust (kgf (lbf)) 757 (1,670) x 2
Maximum take-off weight (kgf (lbf)) 4,173 (9,200)
Length x width x height (m (ft)) 12.5 x 12.2 x 4.1 (41.1 x 39.9 x 13.2)
Maximum speed (km/hr (knots)) 778 (420)
Service ceiling (m(ft)) 12,497 (41,000)
Range (km (nm)) 2,037 (1,100)
Fuel consumption (km/kg (nm/lb)) 3.3 (0.8)
Take-off distance (m (ft)) 807 (2,647)
Landing distance (m (ft)) 694 (2,277)
Let’s be fair, the aircraft is still experimental and must undergo many
hours of flight testing before it is released as an official product. Not to
mention that according to all the articles I read, there is no official
release date. In my opinion, admittedly knowing very little about the
corporate jet market save the stats on some of the more popular planes, I
believe Honda will pull it off nicely. If history has taught us anything,
it’s that there is always room for the innovative, and Honda is certainly
innovative. If we are talking luxury, and we discount Boeing Corporate Jets,
then Gulfstream is world class. For sheer speed, the Cessna Citation X at
600 knots is the winner. In the economy class, if there is such a thing,
Honda may just give Embraer a run for it’s money with the new HF118 Turbofan
Engine. No price tag is yet mentioned for the aircraft, or at least Honda is
being quiet about it. I suspect that the price will follow Honda’s rule of
thumb when it comes to pricing, “if you want the best then pay for the
best”. Honda has a lot to do to prepare to be in league with the big dogs of
the corporate jet market, but I think they will do nicely. Let me know what
you think
Any model builder out there who will take on the challenge of creating one
of these for the flight sim community?
By: Jim Childs
scroft1041@yahoo.com
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