Haute Toys: HondaJet’s First Light Business Jet

For all those who fly high both figuratively and literally, there is a new jet in the market for them to do so in style. Honda’s first ever light business jet was recently tested for its top speed and it passed it with “flying” colors. The futuristic design of the new HondaJet is the mastermind of Michimasa Fujino, who in 1997 who gave it a distinct over-the-wing engine-mount design. It took nearly 15 years for the company to bring this creation to life. In its latest test, this five-seat aircraft notched the maximum Mach number of 0.72 while at a height of 30,000 feet and hit the speed of 425 KTAS (knots true airspeed) or about 489 mph at the same height.

This uniquely designed aircraft is not only beautiful to look at but comes with reduced drag and ground noise thanks to its nose design and “Natural-Laminar Flow” airfoil, as pointed by Honda officials. Furthermore, it is fuel efficient, has low emission and can out-perform clean-wing designs any day.

The inside of the aircraft has been designed to suit the needs of jet setters who are the targeted customers for this business jet. There will be executive seating for more than four people along with Garmin G3000 all-glass avionics system that has been customized for Honda with features like 14-inch landscape format display with dual touch screen control. The company has decided to build about five test aircrafts, the second of which is almost ready. The aircraft is slated to officially hit the market in 2012.

[Source: Gizmag]