Story ID: 
HondaJet Program Logs Another Delay
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Honda Aircraft this week began notifying HA-420 HondaJet buyers that the program has again been delayed.
Word Count: 209
Honda Aircraft this week began notifying HA-420 HondaJet buyers that the program has again been delayed. Delivery of the first HondaJet is now planned for the third quarter of 2012, a spokesman told AIN today at EBACE. “Regrettably we’ve experienced delays in some components,” he said, although he declined to identify the suppliers involved. HondaJet customers are taking the news of the latest delay well, the spokesman said. First flight of the first conforming HondaJet is now scheduled for November, and FAA certification should take place 20 months later. The previous schedule had the first conforming HondaJet taking flight midyear followed by certification and deliveries at the end of 2011. Honda Aircraft’s Greensboro, N.C. research and development facility has completed integration of all major assemblies on the first conforming HondaJet. The composite fuselage, metal wings, empennage, landing gear and over-the-wing-mounted engine pylons have all been assembled, and technicians now are completing integration of major systems, which include electrical, hydraulic and environmental control. According to the Honda Aircraft spokesman, GE Honda Aero, manufacturer of the HondaJet’s engines, will deliver in the third quarter the first conforming engine, which will then be installed on the first conforming aircraft. This month, Honda Aircraft will begin static testing of a conforming airframe.