HondaJet is moving closer to delivering its first aircraft geared for businesses.
Several testing aircraft have been built at the HondaJet production plant in Greensboro, and the first customer aircraft is being assembled, Honda said Monday.
Four test aircraft, including three for aerial tests and one for ground tests, have already been built. A fifth has completed electrical testing, and another is in final production.
The sixth aircraft will be the first with a finished interior, Honda said at an aviation conference in Florida.
The aircraft still must receive FAA certification.
“An assembly line for HondaJet production is in place, major aircraft components including the fuselage and wing have been produced, and we have started assembly of the first customer aircraft,” said Honda Aircraft Chief Executive Officer Michimasa Fujino. “Commencing production is the most important milestone in the HondaJet program to date, with only the future Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification and first customer delivery ranking greater in significance.”
Honda broke ground for the Triad production facility in 2007.
The company described the progress of its aicraft program as “steady.”
Evaluations over the last year have included in-flight, aircraft systems and structural tests including: crew seat crash tests, speedbrake testing, ultimate load tests, windshield bird strike testing, wind tunnel icing tests, night lighting testing, and others, Honda noted.
