Honda's New Business Jet Has Longer Range—and a Toilet Seatbelt

Popular Mechanics ^ | May 30, 2018 | Jay Bennett

[C19fan]

Honda, the worldwide maker of cars and motorcycles and lawn mowers, is doubling down on aircraft manufacturing. The Honda Aircraft Company unveiled a new jet, the HondaJet Elite, on Sunday May 27 at this year's European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The original HondaJet achieved FAA certification in late 2015 and deliveries began shortly thereafter. The new business jet, which will be on display at EBACE until May 31, sports an extended range up to 1,437 nautical miles (a 17 percent increase over the original HondaJet), which Honda says makes it "the furthest-flying aircraft in its class."

[C19fan]

The engines above the wings is unique. A short range private jet with only a 1,400 nautical mile range.

[blackdog]

I am a bit fan of Mitsubishi's MU-2. Not an easy plane to manage. Really should have been certified for two person operation.

Advanced technology today makes cockpit management much less work. Heck, even the Cesna Citation is a two pilot certification.

[Snickering Hound]

A very light jet with a lavatory and even a door for it.

[BBell]

Cool jet. Toilet seat belts for when you drink the water and eat the food you are not supposed to.

[blackdog]

Better article. And yes it is single pilot certified. Which is nuts.

https://www.flyingmag.com/we-fly-honda-aircraft-ha-420#page-2

[robroys woman]

Heck, even the Cesna Citation is a two pilot certification.

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That’s the one my sister and her husband have. They are all about safety. I have to admit that the cockpit view of commercial airliners when at altitude is really cool. Since they are below you they tend to look like snakes in the sky when creating con-trails.

[Snickering Hound]

Better article. And yes it is single pilot certified. Which is nuts.

There are bigger jets single pilot certified like the Phenom 300 and the Citation CJ3.

[Army Air Corps]

The overwing jet engine placement reminds me of the VFW-Fokker 614.

[Bob434]

unacceptable that there is still no bidet

[gunnyg]

ah!~ar last!!!!!

[blackdog]

Unfortunately biz jets tend to access many non precision approaches. Getting biz closet to biz with less wasted time is the purpose of the platform. Trimming operating costs with a single pilot certification is not smart. Ok if ferrying and no pax, but history is not on the side of type ratings required aircraft with a one pilot crew. In the end, insurance companies usually win out and part 135 operators will have two pilots.

[tet68]

unacceptable that there is still no bidet

Why? Just tell the pilot to fly inverted...

[Wingy]

The seatbelt on the john adds another passenger for takeoffs and landings. They can sit on the couch during flight. Wags call it, “The Mother-in-Law seat”.

[Bob434]

but then my ears will pop

[Snickering Hound]

In the end, insurance companies usually win out and part 135 operators will have two pilots.

I'd think most Hondas would be Part 91, smaller business or a well off owner operator.

[Neidermeyer]

Perhaps they can add a computerized bidet wand .. it is Japanese after all.

[az_gila]

The seatbelt on the john adds another passenger for takeoffs and landings. They can sit on the couch during flight. Wags call it, “The Mother-in-Law seat”.

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What couch? there doesn't seem to be one on the layout posted earlier. :^)

[Bob434]

it’s hidden behind the indoor swimming pool

[Wingy]

What couch? there doesn't seem to be one on the layout posted earlier. :^)

I see your smile. You know that the stock interior is just a starting place.