Complete GE Honda Aero HF120 engines are now undergoing testing at Honda’s research center in Japan, according to a news release. Core testing was done in the spring and the next step is certification testing in 2008 with an eye to certification in 2009. The turbofan is an evolution of the HF118 engine that powers the HondaJet proof-of-concept aircraft. The HF120 has about 2095 lbs. of thrust and, in addition to the HondaJet, has been chosen to power the Spectrum Aeronautical Freedom.
Although GE Honda announced a new plant to build engines in Burlington, N.C. with some fanfare earlier this year, the first HF120s off the line in 2009 will be built at GE’s aviation engine plant in Lynn, Mass. The Burlington plant will be ready in 2010.
