Honda Aircraft has taken delivery of its first two production model HF120 engines from the GE plant in Lynn, Mass. The engines are now in full production at the Massachusetts plant after getting FAA certification late in 2013. Production will be moved to Honda’s plant in Burlington, N.C. later this year. The engine is billed as major technological leap for small turbofans with better fuel efficiency and more power for its size than comparable designs. It’s GE’s first foray into the little engine market. The engines pave the way for Honda to meet its current targets.
Honda Aircraft Companys most important goals are achieving Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification and delivering the first customer aircraft,” said Honda Aircraft Company CEO Michimasa Fujino. “Our total effort is focused on reaching these much anticipated milestones in the first quarter of 2015.” The first production aircraft will be rolled out soon and there are eight more behind it on the production line. Honda has spent 20 years developing the aircraft and the engine and is banking on the over-wing pylon design’s efficiency and space saving as a major sales feature in a still-tough light jet market.
