Honda Aircraft, headquartered in North Carolina, has made a firm commitment to bring the HondaJet 2600 to life, a light business aircraft capable of accommodating 10 passengers. The company aims to achieve certification for the aircraft by 2028.
On June 13th, Honda Aircraft announced its confirmed plans and revealed that the HondaJet 2600 will be powered by Williams International turbofan engines. This marks a departure from the GE Honda Aero Engines joint venture, which supplies engines for the HA-420 aircraft.
Honda Aircraft has officially announced its intention to bring the HondaJet 2600 concept to the commercial market. The company aims to obtain type certification for this new light jet by 2028, marking the introduction of a new product line for Honda Aircraft.
After showcasing the 2600 light-jet concept at the NBAA business aviation convention in October 2021, Honda Aircraft has hinted at an imminent official launch. The company, known for its super-light HA-420 HondaJet, has now made a commitment to develop the 2600 model.
Honda Aircraft’s decision to commercialize the HondaJet 2600 concept is a testament to their firm commitment to the program and their determination to bring the aircraft to market. With this development, the HondaJet 2600 has progressed from a conceptual project to a tangible product that is actively being developed.
Currently, Honda Aircraft is in the process of finalizing engineering designs for the new light jet, and fabrication activities are already underway. While the company does not disclose whether it is accepting orders for the HondaJet 2600, it plans to provide more information during an upcoming marketing launch later this year. Additionally, Honda Aircraft has shared further specifications of the 2600 design, including a range of 2,625 nautical miles (4,860 kilometers), a maximum cruise speed of 450 knots (833 kilometers per hour), and a ceiling of 47,000 feet.
The HondaJet 2600 will be powered by the Williams FJ44-4C engine, which is a well-established turbofan used in other light aircraft such as the Cessna Citation CJ4 and Pilatus PC-24. For the manufacturing of the aircraft, Spirit AeroSystems will be responsible for producing the fuselage, Aernnova, a Spanish company, will supply aerostructures and other components, and Garmin will provide the G3000 avionics system.
The HondaJet 2600 will offer seating capacity for either nine or ten passengers, depending on whether it is operated by one or two pilots.
Honda Aircraft aims to surpass the performance, comfort, and efficiency of typical light jets by delivering a medium-sized jet experience. The 2600 is designed to be the world’s first light jet capable of nonstop transcontinental flights across the United States, featuring a quiet and spacious cabin. This commitment to the 2600 marks a significant expansion for Honda Aircraft, as it moves up the size range from its HA-420 ultra-light business jet, which pioneered the ultra-light business jet market. Currently, around 230 of the HA-420 aircraft are in service.
According to Honda Aircraft CEO Hideto Yamasaki, the 2600 represents the next chapter of Honda’s pursuit of skyward mobility. The HondaJet 2600 will enter the market to compete against other established light business jets such as the Citation CJ4, Citation Latitude, and Embraer Phenom 300E.
