HondaJet's first production flight

[EskimoArapaho]

I saw a model of this strange little aircraft at Honda's Tokyo car showroom a month ago. I assumed it was a long way off, but it's just started production flights: http://sploid.gizmodo.com/hondas-first-personal-je...

Looks a bit odd with the over-wing engines, which are patented for some (non-obvious to me) reason.

[Eric Mc]

I would expect that VFW/Fokker (or their successors) might have something to say about that -

[djc206]

It sounds like it's going to be quite a bit faster than existing VLJ's which is a good thing. Few things worse than aircraft flying at big boy levels at low speeds

[ndtman]

Should be good news for GKN as they have produced the fuselage IIRC.

[IanUAE]

I assume fitting the engines above the wing means they can get the fuselage lower to the ground, but why have Honda mounted the engines so high above the wing rather than off the side of the fuselage?

[elster]

IanUAE said:

I assume fitting the engines above the wing means they can get the fuselage lower to the ground, but why have Honda mounted the engines so high above the wing rather than off the side of the fuselage?

Honda said that the location was the optimal for drag, of all locations.

[NormalWisdom]

IanUAE said:

I assume fitting the engines above the wing means they can get the fuselage lower to the ground, but why have Honda mounted the engines so high above the wing rather than off the side of the fuselage?

The VFW 614 (see Eric's picture above) was initially developed to replace the DC3! Overwing engines were intended to reduce ingestion risk and also allow a much lower and more sturdy undercarriage. The last one was retired just 2 years ago and is now in the Deutches Museum of aviation just north of Munich. I have a few pics as I was there just last month - Interesting aircraft in the flesh!

[maffski]

IanUAE said:

I assume fitting the engines above the wing means they can get the fuselage lower to the ground, but why have Honda mounted the engines so high above the wing rather than off the side of the fuselage?

It will be quieter, and because you don't need the extra support structures in the fuselage it's lighter and provides more space.

[Hooli]

maffski said:

IanUAE said:

I assume fitting the engines above the wing means they can get the fuselage lower to the ground, but why have Honda mounted the engines so high above the wing rather than off the side of the fuselage?

It will be quieter, and because you don't need the extra support structures in the fuselage it's lighter and provides more space.

Plus it gives EricMc somewhere to tie the fishing line when hanging his latest kit from the bedroom ceiling

[Eric Mc]

The chances of it ever being produced in kit form are slim to nil.

Kit manufacturers generally ignore biz jets (and general aviation).

[djc206]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Spoken like a true ATC.

PC12s can feck right off!

Haha they're so prevalent now. C510 mustangs are another

[djc206]

Ha yep. I love the C750's and F2TH's hammering along at 360 indicated. The tone in the voice when you slow them to 250 makes me feel a bit guilty. Better than the sound of tin on tin I guess.

[IanUAE]

Thank you the answers one and all.

Damn I was in Munich 2 years ago on holiday and didn't know there was an aircraft museum.

[motomk]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Spoken like a true ATC.

PC12s can feck right off!

Leave them alone!! just had about 10 of them, I reckon, In the world of acronyms, RFDS aeroplanes.
I have lost track of which Citation is which, as there are so many different ones. I have to look up their speeds in their flight plans.
I like the Cessna 510.. they look cool, but they are not the speediest around. Phenom-inals are another one!

Why did the Citation cross the road?





To get to the other side.

[Pesty]

It's cute I want one.

[EskimoArapaho]

Only £3,000,000, I think. Almost within the grasp of a premier league player.

[Moose.]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Spoken like a true ATC.

PC12s can feck right off!

I guess you'd get a even more upset if I took my PC-6 beyond FL250 then

[djc206]

I work surface up to FL660 and I don't really mind the Dash 8's. Once they're dropping they can fly pretty decent speeds. Now that everyone is flying economy speeds it's pretty easy getting them in stream with jets.

F50's however...

[bobo]

i love honda products and if this works it will be great

not sure how the 'ballers' will cope with 'honda' written down the side of their new G5's though.

[Chuck328]

djc206 said:

I work surface up to FL660 and I don't really mind the Dash 8's. Once they're dropping they can fly pretty decent speeds. Now that everyone is flying economy speeds it's pretty easy getting them in stream with jets.

F50's however...

We do!! Pain in the tits for us jets when held high. You probably know our favourite technique is to wind the speed up and dive off the height, until you get stuck behind a bloody Dash!

Had look at the flightdeck (on the link from first post) of this Honda. It looks a bit sparse! Not enough buttons and switches to fiddle with. Not good