So what’s the fastest Honda out there? Turns out, it’s actually a plane!
And it’s a pretty green plane at that.
The new jet — HondaJet — is largely built from composite materials, features a unique over-the-wing engine mount, uses 20 percent less fuel than its competition and is also quieter and faster than the other the planes in the same category.
“This aircraft was assembled and tested under strict FAA certification processes, and we are very pleased to have achieved this successful first flight,” Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Co., said in a statement. “We are very encouraged by our initial review of the flight data, which indicates the conforming HondaJet performed as expected.”
Over 100 orders have already been placed for the 5-seater $4.5 million plane, which is fitted with GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines, and Honda hopes to start production on it next year.
The plane has a top speed of 483 mph (about 80 mph faster than other planes its size), and the company says that most of the fuel efficiency occurs because of: the natural laminar flow which reduces drag; the placement of the engines of the wings, which reduces aerodynamic interference; and the new GE engine which maximizes performance.
Engine noise is also blocked by the wings, making the plane significantly quieter.
The basic design of this jet can be applied to larger vehicles, Fujima said, which is a huge step for the airline industry that struggles to see a slight change in fuel efficiency.
It also represents a growing convergence between the automobile industry and aviation, according to the WSJ.
Cirrus Aircraft, a longtime maker of small single-engine propeller-driven planes is developing a small jet designed for personal use that it has described as a minivan with wings. Terrafugia, a small aircraft start-up in Woburn, Mass., plans to start selling a flying car called the Transition late next year.
Honda’s plane prototype made its first flight last month.
While the company hasn’t disclosed any future plans for larger jets yet, we’re excited to see what else this company has its sights on.
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