BeechTalk - BT - First Flight Of HondaJet (N420HJ) on December 20, 2010

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Dec 2010, 19:32

First Flight Of HondaJet (N420HJ) on December 20, 2010 from Greensboro, NC video pretty cool

[youtube]http://youtu.be/wqG7WwGkowk[/youtube]

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Dec 2010, 20:01

David,

Are you on the Honda Jet list?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Dec 2010, 20:08

The HondaJet flew into KOSH in 2005 IIRC. I also saw it again in 2007 or 2008.

John

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Dec 2010, 20:18

My wife and I just decided that if money were no object, we'd own one.

Unfortunately, money is an object--one we don't have enough of. :doh:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Dec 2010, 22:22

Very nice! I ordered a couple..

One question:

Why do they always leave the gear down on these early testing flights? Are they afraid they'll forget to put it down for landing?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 05:17

Username Protected wrote:

David,

Are you on the Honda Jet list?

only in my dreams

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 05:18

Username Protected wrote:

Very nice! I ordered a couple..

One question:

Why do they always leave the gear down on these early testing flights? Are they afraid they'll forget to put it down for landing?

I am assuming that a gear up would be an expensive and time delaying prospect so they just eliminate the possibility.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 05:54

Username Protected wrote:

Very nice! I ordered a couple..

One question:

Why do they always leave the gear down on these early testing flights? Are they afraid they'll forget to put it down for landing?

I am assuming that a gear up would be an expensive and time delaying prospect so they just eliminate the possibility.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 08:43

Yes, but you have an incredible alternative until you do have the money.

Username Protected wrote:

My wife and I just decided that if money were no object, we'd own one.

Unfortunately, money is an object--one we don't have enough of. :doh:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 16:57

Username Protected wrote:

Unfortunately, money is an object--one we don't have enough of. :doh:

Obviously spending waayy too much time on the interweb

:duck:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 21:12

Is it just me, or do the tires look too small for this plane? :scratch:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 23:49

Sorry but that plane has zero sex appeal.
The whole engine pylon mount seems akward.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 01 Jan 2011, 23:57

Go with the company that's been making jets for 40 years...Cessna. First year aircraft, even from an established manufacturer very risky.....Mustang if you want a VLJ.....IMO :peace:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 02 Jan 2011, 07:56

I understand the chase plane for that video was an S35...with a PT-6...

As far as the engine mount, there's an old saying, "If it looks right, it is right".

And that don't look right.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 02 Jan 2011, 14:27

It'll be interesting to see how the Honda Jet plays out. Their investment is just getting started, if they want to be in this biz for the long run. In any event, it can't hurt the industry. Anything that drives more efficiency (both production and aerodynamic efficiency) is a good thing.

GA likes tradition. Traditional designs, and traditional OEMs. Witness the Starship, Hansa Jet, SJ30, Grob SPn, Eclipse, and others non-traditionl in design or OEM. To break in, the investment is staggering. Embraer has done it, but at extreme cost (and support from the Brazilian taxpayer). Gotta hand it to Piaggio for hanging in there with the Avanti; with investment from Mubadalla in the UAE however.

If anyone could pull off a successful VLJ, it was Cessna (though they HATE calling the Mustang a VLJ). Maybe Piper - the new PiperJet is a lot sexier than the original. Beech recognizes the money is at the high end of their product line, not the low end. The only way they'll get into a VLJ is to pick up a good design for pennies on the dollar once bankrupted. Similar to Cessna picking up Columba. Maybe Diamond Jet, maybe even the Honda Jet if Honda decides they've had enough. Remember the Hawker 400/Beechjet/DiamondJet.