Honda Gives Green Light for HondaJet

Honda announced this morning at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., that it will “enter the HondaJet into the growing very light jet market.” According to project leader and vice president of Honda R&D Americas Michimasa Fujino, Honda will establish a new U.S. company to produce the over-the-wing-engine twinjet in the U.S. Honda plans to certify the GE-Honda HF118-powered HondaJet in 2009 or 2010 under FAR Part 23. The Japanese conglomerate also revealed plans to form a business alliance with Piper Aircraft to collaborate on sales and service, and to explore opportunities in engineering and elsewhere in general and business aviation. “We want to create new value within the aviation market through the unique new design of HondaJet,” said Fujino. “Our goal is to deliver three key attributes-performance, quality and comfort–beyond what people currently expect from light business jets.” Honda wouldn’t disclose the jet’s exact price, but Fujino said it would be less than $4 million. More HondaJet details will be announced in October at the NBAA Convention.