AirVenture- Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino took to the podium with EAA Chairman Jack Pelton in front of a red jet - the company's third FAA-conforming airframe - and a blue one, the fifth of six aircraft in Honda Aircraft's certification program. Oshkosh served as the launching pad for Honda Aviation, he said. "This show has a very special meaning for me, because I introduced the concept for HondaJet to the world for the first time at this air show," Fujino said to the assembled Oshkosh crowd.
"Today I am very pleased that AirVenture has once again provided a setting for another milestone for in HondaJet's history." The test fleet maintains a very active flight schedule, and continues to achieve milestones for FAA certification flight testing. The red HondaJet made its first flight in November 2011; it serves mainly to flight test mechanical systems - brakes, flight controls and systems.
-Two FAA conforming HondaJets fly Demo Flights at 2013 AirVenture- Alabama Aviator Image
"I first sketched the HondaJet on the back of a calendar and Honda
engineers took that sketch from the drawing board to the sky," Fujino
explained. "We come to OSH every year because we have a deep
passion for aviation. "I see the same passion and aviation spirit
in AirVenture. The support of the aviation community has been tremendous
encouragement to me and our associates who work on the HondaJet program."
The HondaJet specs include a maximum cruise speed of 420 knots true airspeed and a service ceiling of 43,000 feet. After taking off in less than 4,000 feet, it has a 3,990 fpm climb rate and can land in less than 3,000 feet. Power for this performance comes from two GE Honda/HF120 engines, each generating 2,050 pounds of thrust. FMI: AirVenture