The HondaJet family of aircraft continues to prove its value and popularity more than two decades after the first prototype took flight. With over 250 airframes built throughout the program’s history, the HondaJet is an excellent entry option in the business jet market, noted for its top-notch performance, unique design, and interior comfort.
Since the first HondaJet – the HA-420 – was delivered in 2015, Honda Aircraft Company has unveiled new variants, including the HondaJet Elite, the Elite S, and the Elite II. These upgraded aircraft continue to earn rave reviews, and a new, larger HondaJet – the Echelon – should enter service before the end of the decade.
Why the HondaJet stands out
Closing in on a decade since the HondaJet entered service, it has logged an impressive 210,000 hours of flight as of February 2024. Having recently reached the milestone of 250 deliveries this year, the company’s Elite II continues to attract orders, and second-hand HondaJet’s are still highly sought after.
Photo: Oleh Yatskiv | Shutterstock
Performance
When the jet was first released, it was noted as one of the most efficient in its class, and the current variant – the Elite II – maintains this, offering impressive fuel efficiency and a high service ceiling. Equipped with two GE Honda HF120 turbofan engines, if we take the HondaJet Elite as an example:
|
Cruise speed |
422 knots (486 mph) |
|---|---|
|
Range |
1,437 NM (1,653 miles) |
|
Service ceiling |
43,000 ft |
|
Fuel burn at high-speed cruise (419 knots) |
999 lbs per hour |
|
Fuel burn at long-range cruise (360 knots) |
543 lbs per hour |
This helps operators keep their costs affordable, making the HondaJet a good choice for customers without a bottomless pit of money. As explored by Simple Flying, the directoperating costs of a HondaJetare estimated at around $1,080 per flight hour while considering the minimum $200,000 annual fixed costs of being an aircraft owner.
Cockpit
A flight review from a pilot’s perspective published byAvBuyergives many insights into the experience of flying a HondaJet. This journey was conducted with a HondaJet Elite back in 2017, which featured upgrades like an enhanced range, a Garmin G3000 avionics suite, and interior revamps.
Photo: M101Studio | Shutterstock
Honda focused on tidying up the flight controls and removing unnecessary switches. Some of the standout features of the cockpit include three 14.1-inch screens, plus two accessible 5.7-inch touchscreens, and a dark cockpit concept that helps pilots focus on switches that need priority.
Optimal Engine Placement: A Guide To The HondaJet’s Unique Engine Layout
Honda produces its aircraft with its engines over-the-wing.
Cabin
The jet’s over-the-wing engine mount (OTWEM) design ultimately enables more cabin space for a plane of this size, which has become one of its main points of praise. The engine design also helps to reduce cabin noise, leading to a more tranquil onboard experience, which extends to the cockpit, too. As noted by an operator of the jet forPlane And Pilot Mag,
“Because they’re not mounted on the fuselage, the noise of the engines and the vibration are both, in theory (and, in practice, I discovered), lessened, making for a somewhat quieter and smoother ride.”
Photo: M101Studio | Shutterstock
Perhaps the one downside of the interior is that the plane does have a lower-than-average ceiling height, but this is only a minor issue.
Looks
There’s no doubt that the HondaJet’s unique appearance is one of its biggest appeals, particularly among clientele with a touch for flair. Unlike most other business jets that mount their engines towards the rear of the fuselage, the HondaJet’s pylon-mounted engines rest over its wings, giving it an undeniable swagger that stands out on the apron.
Photo: Honda Aircraft Company
Program history
The first HondaJet prototype took to the skies in 2003, but it would be more than a decade before the plane received full certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The first HondaJet was delivered in December 2015, and the series has consistently been a top seller in its class.
Photo: HondaJet
The latest variant in the line is the HondaJet Elite II, offering an improved range of 1,547 NM and a higher MTOW of 11,100 lbs, along with some luxury interior finishes like swivel seats. When the plane first came out, it was listed at around $3.5 million base price, going up to $5 million with the entry of the Elite. Nowadays, a new Elite II will set you back a minimum of $7 million.
An exciting future
The HondaJet range will have a newer, larger addition to the family after the HondaJet Echelon was announced at the NBAA Conference in 2021. This aircraft will seat 11 passengers and operate at a range of around 2,625NM, making it capable of traveling across the US without requiring a refueling stop. It will also boast a best-in-class 47,000 ft service ceiling with a cruise speed of 450 knots (520 mph), along with a 20% increase in fuel efficiency to reduce operating costs and emissions.
The Echelon: A Guide To The HondaJet 2600 Concept
Honda is planning to certify the aircraft by the late 2020s.
The company aims to launch the first test flights of the new aircraft in 2026 and expects the Echelon to gain certification in 2028.
Have you ever flown on a HondaJet? Why do you think the plane is so popular? Let us know in the comment section.
