BeechTalk - BT - HondaJet

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 20:58

Username Protected wrote:

If I could afford one and it had range along with useful load I would buy it over anything else with roughly the same amount of seats.

A few gigantic ifs followed by a roughly

I'll grant you, it would be a nice way to shuffle your way to and from obamacare appointments

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 21:29

Username Protected wrote:

, just look to Pilatus. They have done quite well with essentially one plane.

,

HUH? Pilatus has a buncha planes.

And, nobody else builds a Pilatus type of plane. There are too many VLJ's.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 21:43

Yes, Pilatus has quite a few proven designs.

I'm curious to see how the Honda turns out. I think it will be exactly what they said plus more. True, it will be lacking in one form or another as any Light Jet, but I believe they will deliver what they promised. Interesting to see how a successful auto manufacturer makes it in aviation. Or not.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 21:47

<yawn>

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 21:47

Username Protected wrote:

The updated NSX.. :shrug:

That's set for next year..

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 21:49

Username Protected wrote:

, just look to Pilatus. They have done quite well with essentially one plane.

,

HUH? Pilatus has a buncha planes.

And, nobody else builds a Pilatus type of plane. There are too many VLJ's.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 22:03

I, for one, cannot wait to see them sitting in ramps everywhere.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 22:19

nonsensical to discount Honda's potential impact in the aviation industry--and their new light jet...wasn't that long ago when their introductory cars into the auto industry were scoffed at...not to mention the success of their introduction of the CB750 to the U.S...having owned several Honda motorcycles thru the years and observing their developmental process, I'd bet their venture into the aviation industry will be a success...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 22:42

Username Protected wrote:

Looks like a nice aircraft although ugly in my opinion.
But what's up with a 12 year development cycle?! Are they that good (or bad)? Is Honda trying to foster "More patience Glasshoppah"? Heck the P-51 went from drawing board to flying in something like 53 days (IIRC).
I'm obviously not in the market for this jet and am probably missing something....just curious.

Development cycle was closer to 30 years.
Why is HondaJet different is a few key items:
-- Honda had a small team doing research looking for something to be evolutionary/revolutionary in aviation for a very long time before starting development.
-- Honda spent a long time talking to potential customers. Trying to find how to meet most needs with minimal costs.
-- When Honda found they could not meet the demands for the market with a design and with a third party engine, they decided to design their own engine and make changes to the wing.
-- Honda decided to build everything in house except the avionics. Look at the jet engine, in house. Interior, airframe.... everything is in house
-- Honda spent a long time trying to figure out how to lower total cost of operations. Fuel efficiency and MX. Question will be if this matches reality.

Tim

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 22:49

Plus, it's actually priced right. A PC12 is, what, $4 mill? A TBM900 is like $3.5mill? This is $4.5mill.

What would you rather have?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 22:57

Username Protected wrote:

Is there anything that Honda ever promised that they didn't actually deliver?

The updated NSX.. :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 23:27

If I had the capital I'd buy the TBM 900 over any VLJ. Similar speed, less fuel can get in and out of smaller fields, better range and useful load.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 23:31

Username Protected wrote:

If I had the capital I'd buy the TBM 900 over any VLJ. Similar speed, less fuel can get in and out of smaller fields, better range and useful load.

No toilet. That's a tough sell to my fam when nearly 4 million is flying out the door.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 21 May 2014, 23:48

Username Protected wrote:

Plus, it's actually priced right. A PC12 is, what, $4 mill? A TBM900 is like $3.5mill? This is $4.5mill.

What would you rather have?

PC-12, once you study what that plane can do it's seriously incredible. Got 30 hrs in the 850. It does not even come close to the PC-12.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 22 May 2014, 06:32

Username Protected wrote:

Jason,

Aside from their military trainer business they sport a commercial lineup of the 12 and a STOL 6 model. I wouldnt call that a buncha planes.

Your point about the uniqueness of the 12 is certainly valid. I don't know if the VLJ market is over saturated.....maybe.

"Sales" are "Sales". Who cares what the planes are for? It's a company that sells only airplanes.

You don't know if the VLJ market is overstaurated? It's easy to find out. Hop on Controller and go to the "Jet Section". There is absolutely nothing unique about a VLJ. I'm sure Honda CAN deliver what they say. But it's just going to be a "me too" at this point.

I'm not wishing them bad. It's just the reality of the situation. The only jet coming out that is "different" is the CirrusJet. It's a great time to be in the VLJ market. Lot's of zero time used jets for not much money.

HondaJet - short article but lots of pics