HondaJet Is the Most Delivered Very Light Business Jet in 2019

The HondaJet Elite in Ice Blue, Ruby Red, and Monarch Orange at Honda Aircraft Company's headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina (Image courtesy: Honda Aircraft Company)

Honda Aircraft Company’s HondaJet  is outpacing its competitors in the very light business jet category with the most aircraft delivered in the first half of 2019, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association  (GAMA). During the first 6 months of this year, Honda Aircraft delivered 17 aircraft to global customers.

As the most delivered aircraft in its class for over two years, the HondaJet continues to outperform competitors such as the Cessna  Citation M2 , Eclipse  550 , and Embraer  Phenom 100 . Recently, the HondaJet became the first light jet to enter service in Hawaii as two HondaJet Elites were delivered to Wing Spirit , a newly established company that will provide charter services with a fleet of 15 HondaJets in total.

Additionally, Honda Aircraft broke ground on a new $15.5-million, 83,000-square-foot production facility that will increase production efficiency at its North Carolina headquarters. The HondaJet Elite also received type certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China  (CAAC) this month.

“We are thrilled that the HondaJet continues to be the aircraft of choice of our customers, both future and current. Maintaining our position as the most delivered aircraft in our class is a reflection of our team's dedication to the design, service and efficient production of the most competitive very light jet,” says Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company.

Learn more about very light jets 

The HondaJet Elite is the fastest and highest-flying aircraft in its class and has the longest range. The aircraft incorporates a unique over-the-wing engine mount (OTWEM) configuration, a natural laminar flow (NLF) nose and wing, and a composite fuselage. These advancements contribute to the aircraft's superior performance, efficiency, and optimized fuselage interior.

Honda Aircraft Company's sales and service footprint spans territories in North America, Europe, Middle and South America, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, India, and Japan. The HondaJet fleet is currently comprised of more than 130 aircraft around the globe.

William Kucinski  is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

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