Michael

Yes. Honda makes more than just the engines. They actually are producing an aircraft. Take a look:



Honda to Begin Sales of Very Light Jet - "HondaJet"
Honda and Piper Aircraft to Form New Business Alliance

Honda today announced plans to enter the innovative HondaJet in the growing very light jet market, with the process of accepting sales orders expected to begin in the U.S. in fall 2006. Toward this goal, Honda will establish a new U.S. company to hold FAA type certification and production certification. Honda's goal is to complete type certification in about 3-4 years, followed by the start of production in the U.S.

Making the announcement at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2006, the world's largest annual aviation gathering, Honda also revealed plans to form a business alliance with Piper Aircraft, Inc. to collaborate on sales and service, and to explore opportunities in engineering and other areas within general and business aviation.

Honda and Piper will provide a new level of sales and service to meet the needs of jet customers with the goal of setting a higher standard for the quality of the ownership experience. No specific details regarding additional collaboration were announced.

"Aviation has been an important dream of Honda for more than four decades," said Satoshi Toshida, senior managing director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. "Our goal is consistent with the philosophy of other Honda products -- to provide convenient and efficient transportation that will make people's lives better. We are excited now to enter a new dimension of mobility."

"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," said Toshida.



"Honda is a company with a rich heritage of bringing high quality, innovative products to market," said James K. Bass, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft, Inc. "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. Piper is very excited about this alliance and the way it complements our vision for the future."

HondaJet features several innovations that help it achieve far better fuel efficiency, larger cabin and luggage space and higher cruise speed than conventional aircraft in its class. The announcement to commercialize HondaJet comes one year after the plane made its world public debut at EAA AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh, Wis.

The result of 20 years of aviation research, key HondaJet innovations include a patented over-the-wing engine-mount configuration, a natural-laminar flow (NLF) wing and fuselage nose, and an advanced all-composite fuselage structure.

"We want to create new value within the aviation market through the unique new design of HondaJet," said Michimasa Fujino, HondaJet project leader and vice president of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. "Our goal is to deliver three key attributes - performance, quality and comfort - beyond what people currently expect from light business jets."

HondaJet's NLF wing and NLF fuselage nose were developed through extensive analyses and wind-tunnel testing. These designs help HondaJet achieve low drag. HondaJet's patented over-the-wing engine-mount configuration helps eliminate the need for a structure to mount the engines to the rear fuselage, maximizing space in the fuselage for passengers and luggage. Further, by determining the optimal position for the engines, the over-the-wing mount actually reduces drag at high speed to improve fuel efficiency.

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Osnabrueck

Take that, SAAB marketing hook!

Somehow seeing a jet with the Honda name on its wing doesn't strike me as odd in the slightest.

Michael

Ha Osna! You are absolutely correct in what you just said.

Does Saab make any jets whatsoever anymore? I mean, they push this aviation philosophy in all their commercials, when quite frankly I don't believe it not one inch.

Snake Vargas

Do SAAB still make military aircraft for Sweden and other Scandinavian countries? In other news, I for one am glad that I hear Subaru will scrap their "aeronautically inspired" snout from their car range. Heritage or not, no need to bash us in the face with it..

I'm not surprised to see the Honda logo there, and I agree it doesn't look out of place. The brand image is suitably inclined, technology wise. Plus, Honda is the biggest producer of internal combustion engines in the world. Heck, even we have a Honda lawnmower..

Beemer B773ER

I agree... Honda lawnmowers, Honda cars, Honda boat engines...and now Honda Jets.

The aircraft itself looks great.. and the engine placements is quite clever.. especially for a new-comer.
I wonder if Honda will emphasise its newly found Aeronautical expertise in its motoring advertisements like SAAB does... or whether they will stick to their Formula 1 inspired slogan ?

Michael

I highly doubt that they will do the Saab thing just because it may be cheesy and they were not a company that designed and built airplanes before they became what they are now.

Snake Vargas

In a sense, they don't need to. Honda has had enough success (not overwhelming success, but enough) in various race programs such as Indy (IIRC?) and F1, not to mention excellent results in motorcycle racing.

Honda's roots were in motorcycles, so not only is there no reason for them to go the aeronautical route, but IMO it would be somewhat ill-advised - to somehow adopt a new 'background' and perhaps dilute the one that is true and successful.

So, yeah, basically what BMWFreak said!