HondaJet Echelon Takes Shape In Greensboro The first specimen of the HondaJet Echelon (HA-480) that will be used in flight testing is now starting to take shape. For those who may not know, the HondaJet Echelon is the latest aircraft from HondaJet and moves on from their previous and sole iteration the HondaJet (HA-420). Over the years the HondaJet has been upgraded resulting in different names being attributed like the HondaJet ELITE, ELITE II ELITE S. Now the company is working on a much larger aircraft with greater performance and range.
On February 20th the airframer revealed the progress that it has made so far on the first unit for the flight test Echelon. Rewinding back to the start where Honda Aircraft Company originally called Echelon as the HondaJet 2600...they announced the aircraft at the 2023 EBACE and by NBAA-BACE had a cabin mockup of the aircraft there. Honda Aircraft Company’s production department began introducing specialized assembly lines early in 2024, with tooling installation completed at the end of the year. With work on the first major subassembly of the HondaJet Echelon underway, the program has entered its next development phase. The company is producing test articles to facilitate the maturation of the design in support of aircraft certification.
“We are very excited to see the HondaJet Echelon program gaining momentum,” said Honda Aircraft Company Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Amod Kelkar. “We are proud of the achievements we have made in the last several months, and it is just the beginning. We have a series of additional targets to hit in the coming months, each of which will bring us closer to the actual first flight next year. Market interest in the HondaJet Echelon grows, with almost 500 letters of intent signed to date, and numbers increasing every month.”
Despite being larger than the original HondaJet it is still classified as a light jet and is being hailed as the first Light Jet with the capability to fly nonstop Transcontinental in the United States. The aircraft is anticipated to be 40 percent more efficient than some midsize cabin business jets. The Echelon is promising customers at least 2,625 nautical mile NBAA IFR range. Onboard there will be space for up to 11 passengers and the aircraft is expected to max-out at 450-knots. Cabin environment onboard is expected to be around 6,363-feet. For more information: Honda Aircraft Company Greensboro, NC United States of America www.hondajet.com ***
