EAA AirVenture Today
	Table of Contents for Wed, July 26, 2006
	Index of all articles from EAA AirVenture Today
DAILY COLUMNS
	Around the Field
	Ask Tom
	Flying Magazine
	NASA

DON'T MISS
	AirVenture Photo Gallery
	EAA Radio
	EAA AirVenture Video

Issues:
July 23 | July 24
July 25 | July 26
July 27 | July 28
July 29 | July 30
  
EAA AirVenture Today Index

EAA AirVenture Today  is published by the Experimental Aircraft Association for EAA AirVenture from July 23 - July 30. It is distributed free on the convention grounds as well as other locations in Oshkosh and surrounding communities. Stories and photos are copyrighted 2006 by EAA AirVenture Today and EAA. Reproduction by any means is prohibited without written consent.

Advertising information

The official daily newspaper of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Honda to enter the VLJ market and form alliance with Piper
By James Wynbrandt
  

The newest VLJ launches. Honda confirmed its entry into the emerging Very Light Jet market. Photo by Dave Higdon

Honda Motor Co., primarily known for its automotive products, yesterday made two announcements with major implications for general aviation at a press conference at the Honda Pavilion at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006. First, the company unveiled plans to certificate and build the HondaJet, its innovative experimental very light jet (VLJ), and second, it announced an alliance with Piper Aircraft to explore opportunities in the general aviation marketplace and collaborate on sales and service for the HondaJet.

"Aviation has been an important dream of Honda for more than four decades," said Honda’s Senior Managing Director Satoshi Toshida. "We are excited now to enter a new dimension of mobility."

The entry of a major automaker into general aviation represents a large vote of confidence and belief in its market potential.

The HondaJet, which first flew in 2003, features a natural laminar flow
wing, all-composite fuselage, and most distinctively, engines

mounted on pylons above the wing, rather than attached to the aft fuselage as in other business jets. The patented over-the-wing configuration enables the airframe to be more aerodynamic and results in at least 5 percent less fuel burn than a comparable-sized jet, according to the company. It also allows for increased cabin size.

The jet has been used in part as a test platform, flying out of Greensboro, North Carolina, for the turbine engine the company is developing. That project is a partnership with General Electric, and Honda has previously deflected all questions about whether it would certificate and produce the aircraft. The public got its first view of the jet when it made a brief appearance at AirVenture last year, and at the press conference Toshida said the tremendous interest the jet generated here helped convince the company to proceed with plans for production. The aircraft will be manufactured and assembled in the United States, but no decision has been made on where to locate such a facility.

Satoshi Toshida, senior managing director of Honda Motor Co., and James K. Bass, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft. Photo by Phil Weston

Preliminary performance figures for the six-to-seven person jet call for a top speed greater than 420 knots, a 1,100-nm range with IFR reserves, and a service ceiling of 43,000 feet. Certification is expected to take three to four years, but the company will begin taking orders this fall. Price and final performance specifications will be announced this October. However, company officials said the price will be "competitive." When asked at a Q&A session following the announcement whether it would be competitive with the Eclipse, a VLJ priced in the million dollar range, or the Cessna Mustang, a VLJ in the $2.3 million range, the officials simply answered, "Very, very competitive."

The alliance with Vero Beach, Florida-based Piper, which has built more than 140,000 aircraft in its 70-year history, is intended to provide what Honda calls "a higher standard for the quality of the ownership experience." Said Toshida, "In Piper we believe we have a partner we can collaborate with in our effort to bring new value to customers in the very light jet market."

Piper Aircraft President and CEO James Bass, on hand for the announcement, said, "This business alliance is a perfect fit given the commitment both Piper and Honda have to providing our respective customers with world-class products and services."

Officials said the two companies currently have no plans to co-develop products.

Also taking the podium for the announcement was Michimasa Fujino, vice president of Honda R&D America, who spearheaded the HondaJet project since it began in 1986.

"Our goal is to deliver three key attributes—performance, quality, and comfort—beyond what people currently expect from light business jets."

Concluding the press conference, Fujino told the audience, "In Japan, children are taught by their parents to be humble. Today I’m not Japanese. I’m very proud of my beautiful daughter, the HondaJet, and happy to introduce her to you."

The HondaJet is on display at the Honda Pavilion at AeroShell Square (S21).