07-02-2017, 03:36 PM
(07-02-2017, 11:58 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Are they good planes?
To early to tell. Honda delivered the first production plane about a year and a half ago. I think there are less than 40 of them flying. That's why this was a rare sighting.
Typical of Honda, they developed a lot of home grown technology for their jet, including their own turbofan engines, developed with GE. The production specs indicate that it is an excellent performer in both speed and efficiency.
In the aviation world, only time can tell if a clean sheet design like the Honda Jet will ultimately be successful. It's in the Very Light Jet category which is basically an entry level class of jet that allows for single pilot operation and seats 5-7 passengers. At $4.5 million it's priced about the same as its main competitors (Cessna Citation M2, Embraer Phenom). It has the edge in many categories and I think it will be successful. Both the engines and airframes are built in North Carolina.