Honda Test Flies Jet over North Carolina

If you are into cars you may know that some auto makers such as, Saab, Mitsubishi, Subaru and others, made airplanes. Well, turns out Honda wants in on the plane market. Go right ahead, every thing else they make is reliable. If you happen to live in North Carolina you may have seen it and not even known about it. Honda Aircraft has been test flying there since 2010.

Honda announced May 17th 2011 that their plane, The HondaJet has reached top speed and a maximum altitude of 43,000 ft.

The HondaJet or HA-420 is a FAA approved personal aircraft. The four and a half million dollar jet, which debuted in 2003, is being assembled at a plant located at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. The some 264,000 sq ft plant opened earlier this year. The aircraft was planned to be available to the public for 2011 but due to some issues, Honda had to push the date back to 2012. The HondaJet, which had its first flight in December of 2003, is a 5 passenger plane. The plane sports two GE Honda HF115 Turbofans jet engines, in a particular over wing style. This new over the wing style, Honda claims, produces lower drag than a normal over the wing style. With top speed of 420 KTS or 483 MPH and a range of 1611 miles before a refuel, this is one efficient way of personal travel. HondaJet also has a maximum operating limit of 43,000 feet.

The interior of the jet is as original as the engine set up. With all the seats and walls wrapped in a cream white leather. With windows galore and a cockpit full of gauges and screens that display aeronautic information to the pilots. Two oddly shaped “steering wheels” allow the pilots to control the plane. Nice touches of silver and different types of wood set off the leather nicely throughout the cabin. With seats that recline and a bathroom straight out of a five star restaurant, this is flying in luxury.

Honda always makes a good product and is known for their reliability, safety and their efficiency in the car world. Why would there even be a doubt in anyone’s mind about this planes success. Michimasa Fujino Honda Aircrafts President and CEO said in a statement, “Our flight test data indicate that the aircraft is performing as expected, and our team continues to work hard to realize additional performance milestones as we move forward”. Honda Aircraft have already sold jets to the public and expect to have delivered them by April of 2012. Plane enthusiasts and residents of North Carolina keep your eyes to the skies and go ask a dealers about a HONDAJET.