What, if anything, is so special about the Hondajet?

[Jump Complete]

Sitting in night-stop hotelroom, caught a segment of Top Gear where that bloke from Friends flies in a Hondajet.
Apart from the unconventional engine configuration (so?) it looks like any other VLJ to me. Is it so revolutionary in comparison to, say, a Phenom or a Mustang? It was marketed as ‘revolutionary’ implying perhaps, that it is a jet-powed car replacment. But it’s hardly that, is it? I’m not knocking the aircraft, just don’t understand what’s do revolutionary about it.

[horatio_b]

To quote the Honda advertising blurb:

"Honda has placed the engine over the plane's wing, thus reducing aerodynamic drag while at the same time reducing cabin sound and freeing up more space for passengers".

[Jet Jockey A4]

What's so special you ask?

It is FUGLY is the answer!

[bafanguy]

It is FUGLY is the answer!

No way to make this design pretty:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFW-Fokker_614

[Global Aviator]

It’s a Honda, you can get it serviced at your local Honda approved dealer!

[Cambridge172]

Pros:

It's fast
It's quiet (inside that is)
Has some funky cabin and flight desk features
It's low maintenance, reports of solid reliability
Fuel efficient

Cons:

It's expensive to buy
It's difficult to crew - so few around therefore very few rated pilots
No flight sim in Europe
Very limited choice for support - but support standards are at least high
Poor landing performance - needs long runway, especially in wet
It's a 'Marmite' aircraft - most either love the look or hate it - when you resell, it reduces the marketability massively
Phenom or CJ/M2 alternatives just represent better all round value (that's the consensus, considered opinion)
You can only have the one Honda paint scheme from the factory - no bespoke designs - have to paint again if you want anything different

[space-shuttle-driver]

It has a big luggage compartment.

[avionimc]

The market speaks for itself:

The HondaJet was the most delivered aircraft in its class in 2018, based on numbers provided by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Last year, 37 HondaJets were delivered around the globe, marking the second consecutive year the HondaJet has been the most delivered very light jet.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/honda-aircraft-delivers-first-hondajet-elite-451096/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-hondajet-is-the-most-delivered-aircraft-in-its-class-for-second-consecutive-year-300799077.html
HondaJet Elite (http://www.hondajetelite.com/?utm_source=HondaJet%20homepage&utm_medium=digital&utm_campaign=Elite_Rollout)

[what next]

Hello!

The HondaJet was the most delivered aircraft in its class ...

This isn't due to the fact that Honda sold so many, but simply because everybody else sold so few... The "huge" market for the VLJs that the manufacturers anticipated 15 years ago never manifested itself. And as for the HondaJet, if there are so many of them out there, why do I never see one?

[His dudeness]

Hello!



This isn't due to the fact that Honda sold so many, but simply because everybody else sold so few... The "huge" market for the VLJs that the manufacturers anticipated 15 years ago never manifested itself. And as for the HondaJet, if there are so many of them out there, why do I never see one?

Maybe, because of your old age, you don´t see small things any more?

[evansb]

The HondaJet took so bloody long to be certified, the parents were happy just to see it was healthy, let alone a boy or a girl, or Rosie O'Donnell. Oh, wait a minute...

[Brizeguy]

20 Knot crosswind limit!
Short wings = high landing speed coupled with small wheels and smaller brakes, bad design. Tyre changes every 100 landings.

[C152gal]

100 landings between tyre change is pretty good for a bizjet!

[His dudeness]

100 landings between tyre change is pretty good for a bizjet!

You are being sarcastic ?

[C152gal]

No, but I remember the figure of 100 landings when I flew Fearjets and G-birds, but my knowledge of bizjets may have faded as I didn’t touch any of them in this millennium. On the 747 which I currently fly, a lifespan of 40 landings per tyre is the norm, but we use re-threads.

[g450cpt]

C152gal

Your memory must have faded. The G450/550 and the G650 that I fly get 200+ landings on the tires.

[C152gal]

Those were Lear 24/25, diminutive Mickey-Mouse tyres, probably same issue on the Hondajet. And GIIs. Would love to retire on a G650, but not only because of the high tyre life :)

[His dudeness]

We get way more landings than 200 out of our C680 and our homebase has 3323ft LDA...so there you brake hard. We often change ahead of time since there is no mx shop at our airport.

[Pittspilot]

So it always depends on what you want:

It won’t be the next plane after you managed 200h on a SR22. You won’t feel comfortable after flying 5000h on a CL650, because it is so much lighter.

But what beast is it? It is an aircraft which is sly of the performance of a straight C525, but better than a C510 Mustang and Phenom 100. The cabin is very appealing to all passengers. It is the most advance aircraft of it’s class. Love it or hate it, it continues to be the most automated aircraft you will get in that segment.

I as a TRE like to fly it. Period!

[dmark1]

SO much crap on the forum lol. I own one. Tire changes every 160 - 170 landings. Thats about every two years so far for me. PC2 parts program pays for it. Crosswind limits - yes 20 knots steady state but my missions are all at airports with multiple runway configs so its not really a limitation.
PROS:

Looks are subjective, I think it looks cool as hell! Mine is configured with the APMG mod so it comes with the Elite brakes. The mod also gets rid of the leading edges fences, the VG's on the wing and winglets and updates the G3000 to unbelievable abilities. It also widens the horizontal stab to allow for mor
pitch authority at rotation reducing required runways lengths to 3500'

Fantastic cabin, more legroom than most mid size biz jets. Power shades, various dimmable lighting, back control of climate, nice sound system in cabin.

FL 430 - 390 knots at 600 pph and quite enough at that altitude to have a conversation with someone in the back of the airplane without even raising my voice.

Huge baggage compartment and extremely nice fit and finish.

Cons:

Range is not great (1200 NM NBA) (about like its competitors

Linemen hate it because of regurgitating tank if you don't know how to fuel it.

Pilot seating can be tight for anyone over 6'2", (but not NEAR as bad as the M2 or the Embraer 100)

The market has spoken, its been the most delivered small jet since it was introduced in 2016...and the Elite is even better with more interior and paint options.

[JRK]

dmark,
is the cabin quite claustrophobic?

[jimjim1]

I wrote this a few months ago to a friend after I discovered the tale. I have no connection to them. I think it's an astonishing story -

This seems a totally MAD project. A new Business Jet, 7 seat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_HA-420_HondaJet

However after 30 years in gestation and a 5 years production they are selling about the same rate as Cessna's 25 years in production competitor. Over $1B total cost so far, about 1/3 of Honda's current annual profit. $5M apiece.

They did their own engine too (With GE). One man in charge throughout, started at age 26. Japanese leader, all action in USA. "Fujino and the Honda aviation team was transplanted to a leading research center for advanced aeronautics at Starkville, Mississippi in 1986"

Obviously no insistence for quarterly profits here?