PILOT REPORT

PILOT REPORT HondaJet

HondaJet production is ramping up, and more pilots are getting to see how the new jet flies. by Matt Thurber

The HondaJet has taken since Honda applied to That the airplane is thor- measure a remarkable achieve- a long time to enter service. the FAA for type certification. oughly modern is a credit to ment. Recall that the HondaJet First announced as a commer- (Flight into known icing certifi- Honda Aircraft’s designers, chief is a first aircraft designed and cial product in 2006 with cer- cation remained pending when I among them company president built by an entirely new com- tification planned in 2010, the flew the HondaJet on May 12.) and CEO Michimasa Fujino. pany, and it is an airplane every new light jet finally received its The HondaJet received EASA While it must have been frustrat- bit as, if not more so, sophisti- FAA blessing on December 8 certification on May 23. Base ing to see milestones pushed back cated as anything else available last year, nine-and-a-half years price is $4.85 million (2016 $). for various reasons, including the (not comparing it to fly-by-wire engine’s own certification delays, jets). Also, the HondaJet is pow- Honda Aircraft engineers didn’t ered by a new engine of Honda sit around twiddling their digital design, the 2,050-pound-thrust www.ainonline.com slide rules but took full advan- HF120, which was refined, certi- tage of the extra time to hone and fied and put into production by a refine and tweak almost every 50-50 joint venture between GE facet until perfection loomed and Honda called GE Honda closer and closer. To say that Aero Engines. Designing, build- there is a Japanese and Honda- ing and putting into produc- style level of pursuing perfection tion a new jet powered by new might be an understatement. And engines is a huge challenge, and to be fair, a company like Honda, Honda Aircraft and GE Honda when fully committed to a proj- have made it happen. ect, apparently has financial pockets deep enough to let a little time in the long scheme of things How the go by, as long as steady progress HondaJet Flies When the FAA presented Honda Aircraft with its type certificate in December last year, Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino called the approval the is made toward the goal. A modern airplane is much culmination of an “aviation adventure” begun in 2005, when Honda showed the test In this case, the goal has finally more than just its handling in version of the HondaJet to enthusiasts at AirVenture. been reached, and it is by any the air; now designers focus © 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to where inthecockpit. while the pilotislookingelse with notendencytowander stays rightwhere you putit, when trimmed,theHondaJet positive and well harmonized; and snappy, but and are firm air. Thecontrols are notlight punches easily through bumpy loading isrelatively highandit feels like alarger jet.Itswing flown by asinglepilot. the HondaJet isdesignedtobe cially takingintoaccountthat attention, espe that a lot of Fujino andco. certainly paid took onmore importance, and bettercockpitdesign cept of on the aviation scene as the con interface. TheHondaJet came intensively onthepilot-aircraft pounds, but handling-wiseit 10,600 jet, withanmtow of a pleasure tofly. Itisalight perspective, the HondaJet is Where the HondaJet really Yet from apure hands-on - - - this case, however, Iwas able it lasts for an hour or two. In is anall-day affair; othertimes plane. Sometimesthebriefing alignment andindications. logically placed with intuitive but thosethat are neededare there few knobsandswitches, cockpit concept;notonly are thedark out implementation of cockpit feelisawell thought time. Adding totheexcellent feel safeandproficient inlittle pit flow that willhelpnew pilots match asuperbly crafted cock- ingly shortandsimple, andthey able. Checklists are surpris natural andinstantly comfort - allcontrols is the placementof theHondaJet. market aheadof deckstothe G3000-based flight but otherOEMshave brought touchscreen-controlled , turer toselectGarmin’s new Aircraft was thefirstmanufac engineers helpeddesign;Honda deck, which G3000 flight Honda the integration withtheGarmin shines is the cockpit design and before intheair theflight report begins withabriefing training courseisalsoanasset,asitprovidestheopportunitytolearnaboutairplane’s handlingontheground. Garmin G3000integratedseamlesslyandthelayoutcraftedtosimplifypilots’transitionairplane.TheFlightSafety Author ThurbersettlesintothecockpitofHondaJet,notingthatitexemplifiescompany’s attentiontodetail,withthe The usualdrillfor apilot In theHondaJet cockpit, - - - licated what we would doin the the simulator because that rep me gothrough thechecklists in cockpit. Iliked that Frazier had switchology intheHondaJet ing muscles torecognize the training my fly- the process of simulator firstwas beginning motion base. as well as a modern electric est Vital 1100visual system, tor features FlightSafety’s lat- than theairplane. Thesimula- found itslightly easiertoland the real airplane, althoughI it handlesalmostexactly like job withthesimulator, and FlightSafety didanexcellent by the FAA last December. ing pilotssinceitwas certified simulator hasbeenbusy train- HondaJet Level-D fullflight in Greensboro, N.C., and the Triad International Airport craft campusat Piedmont located ontheHondaAir HondaJet learningcenteris Tim Frazier. TheFlightSafety corporate operations flight demo pilotandmanager of tor firstwithHondaAircraft to fly theHondaJet simula The big benefit of flying the The bigbenefitof - - - to be an excellent use of the to bean excellent use of ing theairplane. Thisproved more comfortable when taxi- landmarks andbethat much simulator, I would recognize so when Itaxiedoutinthe the real airplaneawaited, Aircraft ramp about where the simulator ontheHonda smoother;flight hepositioned simple twisttohelpmake my keeping pilotsintheloop. intelligent fashionthat supports automation, but doing soinan to dowithtakingadvantage of will appreciate. thishas Alotof also something that any pilot a boon for the single pilot but steps totheminimum, which is made ahugeeffort topare the steps. TheHondaJet designers less checklists filled with critical in the , with end- me feellike I’mabout tolaunch which makeness jets, some of a big change from most busi lists are relatively short;thisis was that theHondaJet check pit designphilosophy. learn theHondaAircraft cock airplane, but italsohelpedme Frazier added another A big but pleasant surprise - - -

© 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to www.ainonline.com other jets. This configuration because it looksdifferent from characteristics, anditisn’t just thejet’s mostnoticeableone of the HondaJet’s HF120 engines is paint scheme. Number 11,withthegreen/gold ramp. Thiswas N420EX,Serial to theHondaJet parked onthe zier tooktimetointroduce me tion orwalk-around, andFra- plane flight. during my simulator andair tially feelcompletely natural was onemove that didn’t ini this afterafew hours, but it pretty sure Iwould getusedto roller andinstead scrolled. I’m times Imissedclickingonthe ting theroller roll, andafew let push toselectinsteadof a little practice to learn how to wheel toselectanitem.Ittakes list, thenpushesontheroller horntoscroll thecheck uses aroller knobontheleft checklist interface. Thepilot ever, turnedouttobethepilot more timetogetusedto, how- their new jet. straightforward transition into pilots are goingtoexperience a easily see that new HondaJet HondaJet cockpit, and I can at alltofeelcomfortable inthe stop landing. It didn’t take long miles onfinaltoanotherfull- tion toanapproach from three full-stop landing,andareposi- stall thenanILSapproach toa and includedsteepturnsa lastedaboutflight anhour Runway 23L.Thesimulator vice center ramp tonearby taxied from the Honda ser and thejetready totaxi,then Jet’s HF120enginesfired up checklists togettheHonda on theairplane. appetite for gettingmy hands simulator, anditwhetted my the external preflight inspec duplicate with a simulator is PILOT REPORT Of course, the placement of course, theplacementof Of One thingthat ishard to One itemthat Iwould need In thesimulator, we ran the The Real McCoy ------made itintoproduction on has beentriedbefore andeven 75 percent of wing chord) 75 percent of in exactly theright spot (about an over-the-wing engine placed mance. Fujinodiscovered that is improved high-speedperfor the over-the-wing enginemount for passengersandpilots. provides aquietenvironment added totheengineplacement lightning protection), which copper mesh embedded for carbonfiberand four pliesof cured laminate compositewith almost entirely composite(co- compartment. Thefuselage is leather seatsandanunder-seat storage drawer. Aircraft expectsthemostpopularconfigurationtobeexecutiveversion, with The over-the-wing enginemount design makesmoreroominthecabin.Honda light jets, plusahugebaggage something missinginmany externally servicedlavatory, space for a fully enclosable, ing for amore roomy cabin and row untilthevery aftend,allow HondaJet doesn’t nar fuselage enginemounting.The accommodate traditional aft- structure andsystemsto of placement. One is elimination been delivered in the mid-1970s. production after16aircraft had 44-passenger jetthat went outof the Fokker VFW614,a40-to the over-the-wing engine two principalbenefitsfrom The other design benefit of The otherdesignbenefitof In theHondaJet, there are - - - over duringpreflight. also makes iteasiertolookthem evident. Theengines’ placement mounted enginepylons isclearly thevertically dynamic shape of much sidelift ordrag. Theaero so that itdoesn’t generate too also todesigntheenginepylon tion theenginesprecisely but it was criticalnotonly toposi Oct. 30,2001.IntheHondaJet, wave resistance inairplane” on reducing ent for this“methodof Kawamura received aU.S. pat- Fujino andengineerYuichi improvement infuelefficiency. the result being a 5-percent that builds as jets gain speed, the drag-producing shockwave airflow across thelower surface theailerons “toenergize front of generators onthelower surfacein wings are equipped with vortex come feature inalightjet.The with bleed-air anti-icingawel like they belong on a larger jet, drag andcutscockpitnoise. natural laminarflow, reduces visibility, but alsofacilitates windows. Thishelpswithpilot thenoseandcockpitside of appears tobebulbous shaping frame features, such as what could help delay the onset of could helpdelay theonsetof There are otherdistinct air The all-aluminum wingslook - - - - edge skin to break off ice.edge skintobreak With off cal force that the leading deflects tromagnetically create mechani The system’s 20actuators elec sive de-icing system (Emeds). a Cox electro-mechanical expul leadingedgesare fittedwith lizer num, andthehorizontalstabi sideslip.” angles of airflow over thewingletsat high leading edgesto“energize the devices march upeachwinglet’s numbers. Tiny triangle-shaped to improve airflow at highMach upper surface, andthis is designed tle “bump” is visible on the wing’s attack. Asub at highanglesof to improve airflow strip ismounted on theinboard pilot’s operating manual. A stall theaileron,”of according tothe back toward theclosed position positions, automatically blow able only infull orretracted The speedbrakes, while select side like hefty butterfly wings. fuselage that deploy on either lically actuated panels on the aft speedbrakes, which are hydrau- on theairframe istheoptional load is2,850pounds. system icinginhibitor. Max fuel require fuelcontainingfuel- tic page. The HondaJet does airplane usingthefuelsynop monitor fuelingfrom insidethe and thiseliminates theneed to mounted next tothe filler cap, optional external fuel gauge tank. Honda Aircraft offers an tank andfinally theaftfuselage rythrough tank,theneachwing the fillerfirstintowingcar ing; fuelisgravity fedthrough fuselage. Thisisn’t pressure fuel mounted ontheupperrightaft through thesingle-portadapter heat when iceisdetected. is running,thenswitches tohigh mode when at leastoneengine mally runsinthelow power detected; windshield heat nor matically turnsonwhen iceis wing andtailanti-icingauto switches inthe ports because fueling is done aren’t marred withfuelfiller The isalumi One othernotable feature The wing upper surfaces norm position, position, ------

© 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to www.ainonline.com CPDLC, Iridiumsatcom,Tcas II,Taws AandGarminSurfaceWatch. optimal locationandtiltangletoworkeye-distanceconstraints.Avionics optionsincludesyntheticvision,radaraltimeter, Location oftheG3000’s touchscreensrelativetothepilotwasakeyconcernforHondaJetdesigners,whowantedfind atdetermined aglance, with and theirstate canquickly be aligned sotheylookconsistent, positions. Rotary switches are norm ations, orlitwiththewords dark for oper normal tion of switchlights usetheconven didn’t take longat all.Cockpit up themodecontrol panel,it triad plan(KGSO-KGSO,the flight running thechecklists, entering apparent becauseeven withme the cockpit was immediately of speedbrakes toretract. tion automatically causes the continuous thrust(MCT)posi- forward tonearthemaximum example, moving the drag, during a go-around, for when theycouldadd unwanted gets toretract thespeedbrakes at the pilotfor highspeeds. If PILOT REPORT The simplicityandelegance Before or 6 departure) andsetting off for other required Takeoff - - - pointing forward (12 o’clock) three-position switches always facturers prefer toattach their we startedtowork together.” an entire avionics system. And Gary was interested in going to didn’t enter service until 2004]. G1000 integrated deck flight avionics system,justGPS[the time theydidn’t produce an nical meetingswithme. Atthe “And he attended all the tech discussion,” Fujino recalled. cepts. “Hewas openfor any to discussfuture avionics con founder GaryBurrell in1999 process, meetingwithco- early intheHondaJet design be observed onthespot.” degrees sothat any switch can cept ortheknobshouldbe180 ophy: the dark cockpit con to beconsistent,onephilos pit,” Fujinoexplained, “Itried when position. inthenormal While many aircraft manu Fujino approached Garmin “When I designed the cock ------dual GTC 570infrared touch deck apart from G1000isthe decided tocollaborate.” HondaJet, andthat’sof why he Burrell maybe saw thefuture imental aircraft. AndGary it. [We had] justthe one exper company we couldnotpresent I hadabusiness plan,but asa course ent formally to him. Of any business planIcouldpres sion. At the time I didn’t have out having any commercial deci they collaborated withme with- from 1999,” Fujinosaid,“and “I appreciated our relationship foris customized the HondaJet. G3000, even thoughthesystem Honda Aircraft stuckwith decksthat flight ized theyselect, own brand name to the custom the avionics much simplerfor the CDUsmake operating using theCDUs. For Fujino, these are hardly neededwhen lar to those on the G1000, but keys, buttons and knobs simi G3000 systemretains soft interface with the avionics. The (CDUs) that are themainpilot screen control display units What setstheG3000flight ------detail. Notonly didtheyhave to team’s incredible attention to Fujino’s and his engineering said. Thispartially illustrates and we requested revisions,” he input andtheyincorporated it, orative effort. We proposed operation, so that is a collab the touchscreen menu for each ing ordinary gloves. operate theCDUswhile wear screen technology sopilotscan infrared touch- the selectionof bulence aswell asinfluencing cooling andoperation in tur touchscreen location for proper spent much timehelpingdesign tion. HondaAircraft engineers informamenus and layers of complicatedthem tomemorize pilots because it doesn’t require of the center pedestal and are of mounted at anangleinfront trol panel. The two CDUs are mounted next tothemodecon a Meggitt standby display plays fillthepanel,along with to detail.Three 14-inchdis thedesigners’ attentionof outfitted, andfurtherevidence thetouchscreens,”of hesaid. thelocationspent tooptimize you may seehow much timewe and tiltangle. “When you fly constraints withproper location also tomeetcentereye-distance touchscreens for cooling,but fine-tune thedistancebetween “We discussedhow we use The cockpitiscomfortably ------

© 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to www.ainonline.com zier showed mehow I could time togetused to, but Fra without scrolling takes alittle wheel. Clickingthewheel the listsusingyoke scroll out future software upgrade. ADS-B HondaJet but willbeadded ina data isnotautomatic yet inthe faceWatch. Takeoff and landing Sur Chartview andGarmin maintenance recorder, Jeppesen and turbulence detection,CVR, ground-clutter suppression A, SiriusXMWeather, ond transponder, Tcas II,Taws text, weather), DME,ADF, sec- cockpit Iridiumsatcom (voice, eter, CPDLC (VHF datalink), are syntheticvision, radar altim - is optional. able position.Leather covering seat edgestothemostcomfort adjustments to set the forward into theseat backandthigh able inboard that armrests fold and are equippedwithadjust attention as thepassengerseats seats received as much design thecupholders. Thepilot of ledge, andoxygen maskssitaft theside holder at thefront of trimmed designflavor. leather- while adding a touchof deck, the flight poseful decor of substantial and match the pur The power levers andyoke feel easily viewable andreachable. it was easyto scroll through HondaJet ispowered up, and are available as soon as the PILOT REPORT Honda Aircrafthashandedover12HondaJetstodate. The electronic checklists Among theavionics options Each front seat hasacup

is standard. ------

the ton. Green ringslightuparound ment widthfor a180-degree turn behavior, too. Minimum pave preparing mefor theground ulator experience was abighelp smoothly fairly quickly. Thesim- and Ifeltthat Iwas able totaxi sensitive, thesteeringworked fine ing feature ina smalljet.While tronic (steer-by-wire), a surpris degrees C. a relatively coolITT, below 400 process. Theenginesstartedat stop afterpushingthe then pullingitbacktotheidle from cutoff,lever off pastidle, pilot action moving the power totally automatic, withthesole run automatically. on theCDU, andallthetests simple: justpushonebutton the before-start checklistare good togo. Systemstestson fill intheblanks and you’re touch theicononCDU, faster for cockpitsetup. Just pilot interfacefareasierand ble devices, IfindtheG3000 that traditional FMSsare capa V and Vspeeds(V 10,161pounds) for anmtow of fuelplustwo pilots pounds of BOW withoutpilot,2,410 plan, weightsour flight (7,381 I usedtheCDUtoplugin progressed.as theflight while pushing. This got better theswitch toholditsteady of position my thumbontheedge ² 120,V Nosewheel steering is elec Starting theFadec HF120sis Before starting the engines, start

button during the start button duringthestart e 140).While Iknow ¹ 110,V start r

but 115, - - - - - but thenaftergettingairborne, pitchandwingslevel,takeoff command barsshow normal That way, director the flight out pressing theselectbutton. mode control panel,but with set theassignedheadingin annunciator yet. Frazier likes to lateral mode modeontheflight the , but didn’t select a put theHondaJet tothetest. southwest-northeast path to doah Valley, leaving usaclear theShenan ing eachsideof towering- flank temperature,than normal with wind, goodvisibilityandhigher strated the tight turning capability. and afterlandingFrazier demon on theground isjust38.5feet, degrees C. Aswe leveled again ing 550pphper sideat ISA+8 briefly at FL280 at MCT, burn fuel.Wepounds of leveled 26 minutes andusesabout 520 takesa climbnormally 25to storms, but Frazier saidsuch wiched between thethunder allthetraffic sand- because of at 5,000feet. speed down for our first level-off back about halfway to keep the fpm, andIhadtopullthepower was ascendingat nearly 4,000 ISA+11 degrees C, the HondaJet Climbing through 3,000feetat max continuous power (MCT). pulled thepower levers backto and startedaturnto270 the heading selector button more speed,theflaps. Ipushed and, after building into the V-bars, then retracted the moment thenallowed ittoclimb ing, Iheldthenosesteady for a they hadinthesim.Afterrotat- assigned heading. diately commandsaturntothe pushing the select button imme unrestricted climbtoFL430 the HondaJet smartly, just as the HF120enginesaccelerated and asFrazier hadexplained, I pushedthe KGSO weather was calm We weren’t able toget an on RunwayI took off 23L, After Takeoff toga button on ------with “RB.” Although we were symbol (“YD”) mode annunciator replaces the der biasisengaged, theflight an engine failure. When rud the pedalneededduring takes outsome, but notall,of the rudder biassystem,which KGSO, Frazier showed me maxed outat 8,000feet. 300 pph per engine and cabin C. Fuelflow dropped tojust FL430at ISA-9degrees tude of the HondaJet’s maximum alti through FL410thenleveled at the climb, we saw 2,000fpm and Mach0.72.Resuming speed topped out at 423 ktas erating withMCT stillset, 480 pph per side. After accel at FL330,fuelflow dropped to for access to solid-state relays pages, suchaspower control changed onthesystem control ton. Various itemscanbesetor much easier to use the yoke but pushing aCDUicon,but it’s they can also be accessed by inboard yoke bringsthem up; the button ontheaftsideof tem control pages. Pushinga quick accesstotheG3000sys- altitude restriction. hold speedwhile Vnaving toan no . CSC can also in an airplane with Fadec but hold a specific speed per ATC helpful when thepilotneedsto engaging CSC. Thisfeature is to adifferent speed,thenre- out disengaging CSC, flying speed can’t bechangedwith andFadec, but the CSC holdsthat speedusingthe the enginesare insyncmode. with asteady airspeed when engaged inaltitudeholdmode a target airspeed. CSC can be lot and Fadec to set and hold the pilottouseautopi trol (CSC)feature, which allows daJet’s handy cruise speed con- jet’s flightpath. hardly seemedtoaffect the ing oneenginebacktoidle still at ahighaltitude, pull On theway backdown to Another useful feature is Frazier showed me the Hon ------

© 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to www.ainonline.com at glideslope intercept. Then it about onedot up, andfullflaps then landinggear at glideslope do was deploy approach flaps and glideslope, andallIhad to smoothly captured thelocalizer approach andtransition. the CDU, thenselectingthe pushing theprocedure iconon selected asthedestination, then making sure KGSOmatter of is ting uptheapproach issimply a approach toRunway 23R.Set to KGSO for acoupledILS up ATC and headed back theHF120s. rapid spool-upof with quickrecovery andfairly The stallswere straightforward, marker tomaintain altitude. synthetic vision’s flightpath like cheating tousetheG3000 solid, although it feels a little HondaJet. Thesteepturnswere completely comfortable inthe timehand-flying, Ifelt of Even withjustashortamount to stickshaker, thenrecovered. then a clean and dirty stall, just flew aleftandrightsteepturn to 200knotsVFRat 4,500and airwork. I slowed the HondaJet we diverted toShilohfor some below redline. have raised thenosetoslow us it had, it wouldto activate; if fast enoughfor theprotection the HondaJet didn’t getquite we heard theoverspeed horn, kicks injustabove redline. While overspeed protection, which up toMCTshow methe had me bring the power back more than6,000fpm.Hethen descended smoothly to FL240 at affect pitchat all.TheHondaJet bled slightly but didn’t seemto the speed brakes, which rum control panelwhile Ipopped vertical speedroller onthemode on theground). mostat andCVRerase (only lighting configuration, ther ing field elevation, lights and sync de-select, setting the land and cabin power outlets, engine descent by cranking down the PILOT REPORT The G3000’s autopilot After theairwork, we dialed On theway back toKGSO, Frazier accelerated our - - - - [it down] niceandsmooth, and hold thenose upthere, rotate thing is when you de-rotate, just flare,” Frazier said.“The only larger jet.“There’s notalotof aflare andlandslike a much of the HondaJet doesn’t need landing was slightly smoother; to Runway 23R. The second and flew arightpattern back a touch-and-goandtookoff the flaps, thenIadded power for still satisfactory. smooth asinthesimulator, but nearly direct crosswind, notas solid landinginaseven-knot touchdown pointfor aclean but feet andtracked down tothe theautopilot at about off 300 HondaJet’s progress. Iclicked for V ing checklist,managing power was timefor thebefore-land Frazier took care of resetting Frazier tookcare of ref +5 and monitoring the +5 andmonitoringthe - to leather and adds aneat which upgrades all cabin seats for the executive seating option, facing passenger. out tomake atable for the side- itsstepscleverly foldsone of when thecabin doorisclosed, To add someutilityto this seat, opposite themainentrydoor. side-facing seat canbe installed them thepilot,aseventh one of occupantsissix, number of available. While thenormal the space maximum use of from designers, andtheymade HondaJet got equal attention them asrequired.” then release not anti-skid firm, onthebrakesthen firm initially, Many buyers will likely opt the The passengercabin of Interior Details equipped with optional touch age compartmentscanalsobe upgrade theremaining three stor right-hand cabinet, andwiththis sonal storage compartmentand added totheright-handaftper tem withtouchscreen controllers enhanced cabin management sys available at eachseat. storage compartmentsare is optional.Optionalpersonal the cabin, andaleft-sidetable standard ontherightsideof option. One stowable table is pleated window shadesare an brightened, but powered trochromically dimmedand retractable inboard armrests. the maincabin seats, aswell as cabin outflow air. bypartment does getwarmed While notheated, theaftcom to hoist luggage intothespace. ground, withnoladder needed ment iseasily reached from the the nosearea. Theaftcompart- compartment and nine cu ft in aft 57 cuftintheunpressurized theHondaJet, with attribute of ing area. Baggage spaceisakey legroom for theclub-four seat sure bulkheads, leaving plentyof long from theforward toaftpres- high, five feetwideand17.8 Jet’s cabin isroomy at 4.8feet ment onthewings, theHonda atory area. add natural lighttotheaftlav are two skylight windows that toilet isstandard, and there running water. Theflushing lavatory area, andasinkwith and solidpocket doorsfor the cabin power outletsare available. nectivity are optional.Uptosix Business Aviation airbornecon- XM satellite andGogo electrochromic windows. Sirius audio, lighting,temperature and with mobile device control of an audioentertainmentsystem, of upgrade allows installation screen controllers. Theenhanced under-seat slidingdrawer to service portfor thelavatory options includetheexternal Buyers canoptfor an Cabin windows are elec Thanks totheengineplace Other desirable ------

© 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to www.ainonline.com The HondaJet has room for an enclosed externally serviced lavatory.The HondaJethas room foranenclosedexternallyserviced dard day at mtow, withtakeoff at thisaltitude. high-speed cruiseoptionisbetter Clearly theflight. the at the end of descent 1,250 nm,withanormal a high-speeddescent. numbers were calculated using trip inabout 1.6hours. These FL310 would allow an800-nm atThe samehigh-speed flight just over 1,200 nm. of in a flight reserve fuel.Thiswould result and land with 600 pounds of for 2.6hoursthendescend FL430, fly at high-speedcruise pph total. cruise at 356 ktas burning 597 climb fuel,theHondaJet can about 500poundsin ing off ably. AtFL410andafter burn- settings cutfuelflow consider pph. Long-range cruisepower 1,122 while burning atotalof should clock in at 422 knots at that altitudetrueairspeed takes just under 12 minutes, and feet lower. ClimbingtoFL310 spot speedwise isabout 12,000 24 minutes, but thejet’s sweet to climbdirectly toFL430in the HondaJet should be able could fly 2.8hoursandabout climb toFL430,theHondaJet PILOT REPORT Takeoff fieldlengthonastan- At long-range cruisewitha The HondaJet couldclimbto On astandard day at mtow, Performance Expected Expected - feet for a5,000-foot airport.Typ- under 4,000feet.Add about 1,000 for serviceaswell. Thedealers’ network, notonly for sales but da’s own automobiledealer worldwide, modeledafterHon- dealers has setupanetwork of selling directly to buyers,of it ical jetmanufacturer; instead orders for 100aircraft. just over two years tofulfillthe eries permonth,itwilltake three tofourrent deliv rate- of backlog numbers. At the cur has notreleased any current the program, HondaAircraft early after ithadannounced ted tomore than100airplanes revealing that buyers commit glad theywaited. Apart from but I’mbettingthat theyare early orders hadtowait awhile, ously customerswho placed HondaJet for theowner. Obvi- by professional pilotswho fly a airplane, but alsoappreciated themarket for this majority of owner-pilots who are likely the feet, depending onlanding weight. range from about 3,000to3,500 on astandard day at ical landingfieldlengthnumbers flaps andanti-icing off, is just be a pleasure to fly for the capable business jet that will Overall Honda Aircraft isn’t a typ The HondaJet is a fully Impressions - - - a logical sequence. ThePOM notes about various steps, all in profiles flight and diagrams of including flight, each phaseof section provides detailed steps for ating Procedures andTechniques For example, thePOM’s Oper best I’ve seen in this industry. sional caliberandamongthe highly profes (QRH)—is of quick-reference handbook pilot’s operating manual (POM), manualairplane flight (AFM), comes with the HondaJet—the properly.being taken care of seen tomake sure customersare thedelivered jetsare overall of Aircraft headquarters, andhere a full servicecenter at the Honda service network isbacked upby Number delivered(through date) FAA certification(basis, date) Baggage capacity(aftcompartments) Baggage capacity(nosecompartment) Cabin Height Wingspan Length Landing distance standard) Takeoff fieldlengthatmtow(sealevel, Max takeoffweight Cabin altitudeatceiling Ceiling (certified) Max payloadw/fullfuel Fuel capacity Long-range cruisespeed High-speed cruise alternate) Range (w/NBAAreserves,100-nm Passengers (typical) Engines (2) Price (base) All of thedocumentation that All of Honda AircraftHA-420HondaJet Specifications andPerformance - - - 12 (6/17/16) FAR Part23(through 23-62),12/08/15 66 cuft/400lbs 9 cuft/100lbs 17.8 ft Length (betweenpressurebulkheads): Height: 4.8ft Width: 5.0ft Volume: NA 14.9 ft 39.8 ft 42.6 ft 3,047 ft 3,934 ft 10,600 lbs 8,000 ft 43,000 ft 547 lbs 2,850 lbs 368 ktas/Mach0.64 422 ktas/Mach0.72 1,206 nm 1 crew+5pax GE HondaAeroHF120,2,050lbs $4.85 million business jetmanufacturers. serious now joined the ranks of clear that Honda Aircraft has plane, anditisabundantly is athoroughly modernair their capabilities. TheHondaJet 25 design,willeasily bewithin another airplane, even aPart enough onthisprogram that craft’s engineershave learned and itisclearthat HondaAir the Part 23 design spectrum, of performance are at thehighend tions are especially well done. mental control systemillustra various systems. Theenviron geous colorfullifelike images of explained andillustrated by gor amazingly detailed yet clearly Systems Descriptionsectionis The HondaJet’s systemsand o - - - - -

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