Asian Sky Quarterly - Q3 2020

AIRCRAFT SPOTLIGHT:
HONDAJET ELITE
In December 2003, the Honda Aircraft Company took itself to new heights with the
first flight of its own Honda HA-420 HondaJet. The compact business jet joined
Honda’s range of products for land and sea, a vision that was 30 years in the making
for the company. After years of research and development, the first HondaJet was
delivered to a European buyer in 2016.
The original HondaJet was advertised as the fastest, highest-flying,
quietest, and most fuel-efficient jet in its light jet class. The aircraft
came to market featuring three distinct characteristics intended to
make the HondaJet the most efficient aircraft available.
engine is located at the rear of the fuselage. An additional advantage
of this unique feature is the allowance of more cabin space – making
the HondaJet one of the roomiest of its class with the largest
baggage capacity.
One of its most prominent features is the Over-The-Wing Engine
Mount (OTWEM) configuration, said to reduce aerodynamic drag,
which ultimately leads to faster flight speeds and greater fuel
efficiency. This is unlike the engine of most business jets, where the
Another distinct characteristic is the Honda-developed Natural
Laminar Flow (NLF) Wings and Nose design. The laminar flow, which
is essentially the flow of uninterrupted air streaming from the noise
to the wings, contributes to reduced wind drag even at high speeds
and is also a contributing factor in the speed and fuel efficiency.
The HondaJet also incorporates a composite fuselage, unlike the
traditional aluminum fuselage of most business jets. Another factor
in fuel efficiency and increased cabin space, the composite fuselage
also translates to a reduced manufacturing process.
Another distinct characteristic
is the Honda-developed
Natural Laminar Flow (NLF)
Wings and Nose design.
22 | ASIAN SKY QUARTERLY — THIRD QUARTER 2020