Honda, a company most famous for its award-winning line of automobiles, motorcycles, and home improvement equipment, is entering into some very unfamiliar territory — private jets.

After nearly 30 years of development, the HondaJet marks the company's entry into the $23 billion-a-year general aviation industry.

When it enters service, the $4.5 million North Carolina-produced HondaJet will compete in the very light jet segment of the market against already-established models, such as Embraer's Phenom 100 and Cessna's Citation Mustang.

According to the AP's Yuri Kageyama, Honda already has 100 orders for the jet — on sale now in the US and Europe — with deliveries set to begin later this year.

To show off its latest mobility offering, Honda is taking the jet on a world tour that kicked off this week with a ceremony at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

"To offer personal mobility in the skies was the dream of Soichiro Honda and the dream of us Honda men," Honda president Takanobu Ito told the press in Tokyo. "Today is a symbolic day."

Honda Aircraft CEO Michimasa Fujino revealed a truly fascinating tidbit of information at the ceremony — the nose design of the jet was inspired by a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo high heels he encountered at a duty free shop while on vacation in Hawaii.

According the Wall Street Journal, Fujino told the press that he was inspired by the designer footwear because it represented beauty, comfort, and functionality.


Designer heels aside, it will also feature one of the most unique engine layouts in civil aviation, with two GE Honda HF120 turbofans mounted on top of its wings. This design eschews the conventional business jet layout that calls for engines to be mounted at the rear of the fuselage.

By dispersing much of the engine's noise away from the fuselage, the jet will save passengers from suffering the same ear-shattering din as those unfortunate enough to be seated in the last few rows of other rear-engined aircraft.

According to the company, the over-wing engine design also gives the cabin greater usable space by removing the interior superstructure needed to support the engines.


The aircraft's HF120 turbofans will power the six-passenger HondaJet to a top speed of 483 mph and a maximum range of over 1,300 miles. Honda's technical wizardry also shows up in the jet's interior, with a state-of-the-art cockpit packed with features like touchscreen controls, a trio of 14-inch displays, and Garmin's G3000 avionics suite.

Have a closer look at Honda's new HondaJet:



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/hondas-new-hondajet-debuts-at-tokyo-haneda-airport-2015-4#ixzz3YDCIasKs

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4.5 million? nigerian politicians will certainly place orders...

This is incredible... They'll have a good market for this...

nice....I like the fact that its considerably not as expensive...lemme hustle hard so I can pick one for myself.

MrFootball:
4.5 million? nigerian politicians will certainly place orders...

Same thing I said to myself when I first saw the price....

Quite affordable, I guess the private jet industry will soon be very competitive which will affect the pricing dynamics of the industry.

Hence we hope to see cheaper jets. But then don't forget that this travels a maximum of 1300 miles stretch on a gassed up tank. Prepare for many stop overs on your way to China.

greatmarshall:
This is incredible... They'll have a good market for this...

very incredible pal. But left for me , I would like to see car companies like BMW and Benz go into the Jet market and not HONDA per say...

searchcorp:


very incredible pal. But left for me , I would like to see car companies like BMW and Benz go into the Jet market and not HONDA per say...

exactly bro... especially Benz

searchcorp:


Same thing I said to myself when I first saw the price....

Quite affordable, I guess the private jet industry will soon be very competitive which will affect the pricing dynamics of the industry.

Hence we hope to see cheaper jets. But then don't forget that this travels a maximum of 1300 miles stretch on a gassed up tank. Prepare for many stop overs on your way to China.

Dats true.

this is what is called a glass cockpit!....even the Flight Management is touch screen...great!

Awesome!!!

greatmarshall:
This is incredible... They'll have a good market for this...

Darn right !!

Hmmm
Been waiting for this for sometime now *smacks lips*

Just the right gift for her next birthday!

Nice.

cescky:
Hmmm
Been waiting for this for sometime now *smacks lips*

Just the right gift for her next birthday!

and when exactly is her birthday. I just might beat you to it.

searchcorp:


and when exactly is her birthday. I just might beat you to it.

looool see this guy man oo

MrFootball:
4.5 million? nigerian politicians will certainly place orders...

if GEJ comes back.

bigiyaro:
if GEJ comes back.

Lolz.