HondaJet Elite – one small step for Honda, one giant leap for HondaJet.

The traditionalists in the business jet manufacturing community were skeptical when Michimasa Fujino initiated the HondaJet project in 1986. Many challenged the basic concept of the Honda Jet vision and of course, the now iconic wing-mounted engines.

Some thirty years later and having built a green-field manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina, HondaJet have now upgraded their 2015 launch model with the HondaJet Elite, offering 17% longer range than the original launch model via a lighter cabin, better engine aerodynamics and an auxiliary fuel tank. At 1,437NM, the HondaJet Elite can now operate non-stop from London to Istanbul or New York to Houston – a move welcomed by the very competitive light jet market.

HondaJet increased the price mind you to US$5.25m to pay for the upgrade (US$300,000 more than the original standard model) and you will pay extra for the optional fully enclosed belted lavatory for example. Given Honda’s automotive heritage and huge investment in the project to date, the overall end result is predictably top quality and very high-tech.

The good news for HondaJet is that it delivered 43 units in 2017 making it the highest seller in its class. This winning streak continued in 2018 with the model topping the light business jet category in deliveries for the first two quarters. Given the range upgrade, we can expect more of the same from this small but mighty “new entrant”.

www.hondajetelite.com