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The HondaJet 2600 concept, announced two years ago at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas, is on its way to becoming a reality. Honda Aircraft Company made the announcement on Monday at NBAA-BACE, in the same city, officially branding its latest light jet offering as the Honda Echelon.
"It is a testament to our pushing the boundaries of what is possible in aviation," said Honda Aircraft Company President andamp; CEO Hideto Yamasaki. @globalair.com This week at NBAA-BACE Honda Aircraft Company unveiled the HondaJet Echelon. Take a look inside with GlobalAir.com ?? #nbaa #naa23 #nbaabace23 #nbaa2023 #aviation #aircraft #jet #hondajet #aviationconvention #businessaviation #bizav #bizavtiktok #aviationtiktok ? original sound - GlobalAir.com
Dubbed by Honda as the first continental light jet, the aircraft is designed for single-pilot operation, with the company seeking a dual certification for pilots on the Garmin G3000 avionics system.
"This aircraft will be a market disruptor," said Amod Kelkar, Honda Aircraft's chief commercial officer and leader of the HondaJet Echelon program. "We are now touching the midsize jet range with a light jet aircraft."
A mockup of the Echelon is at HondaJet's static display at Henderson Executive Airport (HND) alongside the HondaJet Elite II, the first time both planes have been presented together.
Kalkar said the Echelon is 20% more fuel efficient than its light jet competitors and 40% more efficient than current midsize jets. It is expected to have a maximum range of 2,625 nautical miles, far enough to connect it between New York and Los Angeles at a maximum altitude of 47,000 feet and a maximum cruise speed of 450 KTAS.
It will be powered by two Williams International FJ44-4C engines.
While the interior aesthetics are still being developed in collaboration with designers with Honda Motor Company and Acura, it is expected to offer three configurations: executive, club and divan, along with options for seats that can fold completely flat, allowing passengers to rest during flights.
Its cabin is 4.5 inches taller than the HondaJet Elite II, while it is 1 inch wider at window level, 5.4 inches wider at the shoulder and 7 inches wider at the floor. At its max altitude of 47,000 feet, it has a cabin altitude of 6,363 feet.
Cabin noise is also reduced, the company said, with its patented Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration, which also allows for greater use of fuselage space for the cabin and external cargo areas. The aircraft has an entirely different fuselage than the HondaJet HA-420 which is longer and composed of a non-circular cross-section that allows for the additional cabin room.
Along with the Garmin G3000 avionics package, the HondaJet Echelon will offer additional advanced features including autobrake, autothrottle, runway overrun awareness and alerting system, advanced steering augmentation system and emergency autoland.
The HondaJet Echelon will be 57 feet long with a 56-foot wingspan and is expected to have a maximum takeoff weight of 17,500 pounds.RELATED STORIES:Honda Aircraft announces plans to commercialize HondaJet 2600 Concept Honda Aircraft is building a new HondaJet 2600 Concept factory in North Carolina"The HondaJet Echelon was born to create a new category that transcends the travel experience on conventional light jets," Yamasaki said. "Expanding mobility skyward has been Honda's long-lasting dream, and the HondaJet Echelon marks the exciting next chapter while showcasing a classic Honda story of a product that creates new value for people."Company officials declined to disclose any pricing on Monday.
Honda Aircraft says it has already received more than 350 signed letters of intent from official buyers. The company is already in fabrication and build mode, with the critical design phase set to wrap by next summer. Final assembly of the first test-model aircraft is planned by early 2026, with Honda Aircraft eying type certification in 2028, with first deliveries occurring by the end of that year, although they said on Monday that such a target is subject to move out a bit.
"Our job now is to deliver this product to all these customers who are very eager to get their hands on it," Kelkar said.
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