Honda Aircraft is increasing the role Spirit AeroSystems will play in manufacturing its HondaJet 2600 light business jet. Spirit’s contribution to the program, formally launched on June 13, will now include a build-to-print approach to making the aircraft’s composite fuselage and bonded frame.
The company has yet to determine whether it will manufacture the 2600’s fuselage at one of its U.S. sites or at its factory in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Spirit doesn’t participate in the current HondaJet program; GKN Aerospace is the main fuselage supplier for the HA-420 HondaJet. Aernnova will contribute aerostructures and components for the new jet..
Formerly owned by Bombardier, Spirit’s Belfast facility builds structures for the Canadian company’s Global and Challenger business aircraft. The company also manufactures multiple structures for various Airbus and Boeing single-aisle and widebody airliners, as well as nacelles for aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce.
For the A220 (formerly the Bombardier CSeries) it designed and builds the pylons. Until Mitsubishi ceased work on its MRJ regional jet, it also made pylons for that aircraft.
“This agreement expands our regional and business jet portfolio and is a testament to our expertise in advanced materials and processes,” commented Alex Bellamy, v-p of regional and business jet programs at Spirit AeroSystems. “Our experienced and diverse teams worldwide continue demonstrating our capabilities to build next-generation aircraft.”
Bellamy told AIN that Spirit is actively pursuing tier one supplier roles in other new aircraft programs. It has signed an agreement with Airbus to make the wings for its planned CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL aircraft.
“A lot of emerging aircraft technologies will have to be certified, and since Spirit has substantial experience in designing and building [aircraft structures] we can help the new companies to navigate these requirements and find them a path to type certification,” said Bellamy. “There are some very exciting opportunities out there, giving us a chance to shine.”
On Thursday, Spirit presented a new four-year contract to workers at its Wichita factory in the hope of averting strike action. Local Lodge 839 of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers has told the company it has recommended that members accept the proposed deal.
Honda Aircraft plans to certify the new HondaJet 2600 light jet in 2028, having first unveiled the concept at the NBAA-BACE show in 2021. The aircraft is a larger version of the current HondaJet, featuring the same over-the-wing-engine-mount design, a pair of Williams International FJ44-4C turbofans, and the Garmin G3000 avionics suite.
While the HA-420 HondaJet is built at Honda's plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, the company has yet to confirm where the new light jet might be built.