Honda Aircraft Unveils Name Of New Light Jet At NBAA-BACE: HondaJet Echelon
Honda Aircraft has revealed the name of the HondaJet 2600 Concept light jet it introduced in 2021: the HondaJet Echelon. The manufacturer is displaying an Echelon mockup at the National Business Aviation Association-Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) running through Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the U.S.
The Echelon, which Honda Aircraft will offer alongside its HondaJet Elite II very-light jet, has much to live up to. The plane will provide an experience typical of a mid-sized jet and be the world’s first single-pilot light jet capable of completing nonstop transcontinental flights across the United States, the company says.
“The HondaJet Echelon was born to create a new category that transcends the travel experience on conventional light jets,” says Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Hideto Yamasaki. “Expanding mobility skyward has been Honda’s long-lasting dream, and the HondaJet Echelon marks the exciting next chapter while showcasing a classic Honda story of a product that creates new value for people.”
The Echelon Design
“Echelon” implies Honda Aircraft’s vision to produce a next-generation business jet that takes efficiency to new heights while delivering passengers premium comfort and convenience. Buyers will be able to choose among Executive, Dual Club, and Divan cabin configurations and will travel in the segment’s tallest cabin (1.6 metres; 5.21 feet) and at the lowest cabin altitude (6,363 ft; 1,939 m) at a maximum cruise altitude of 47,000 ft (14,326 m). They’ll have a generous 3.4-cubic-m (120-cubic-ft) cargo compartment in which to stow their belongings.
Honda says electrification and automation of the Echelon’s systems will result in augmented pilot abilities, reduced workload, and improved safety. The manufacturer says the light jet will provide an experience typical of larger aircraft but will also deliver unmatched fuel efficiency thanks to its aerodynamic innovations. On typical missions, the Echelon will outperform light jet competitors by up to 20% and midsized jets by more than 40%, it says.
Ongoing Progress
Honda Aircraft will produce the plane at its global headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina. The maiden flight is expected in 2026 and type certification in 2028. The company has completed several key milestones, including the official power-on ceremony at Honda’s Advanced Systems Integration Test Facility in Greensboro.
Echelon Basics
The jet’s typical configuration is 10 passengers and one crew member; an alternative configuration seats nine passengers and two crew members. With one pilot and five passengers, the Echelon has an NBAA instrument flight rules (IFR) flight range of 2,625 nautical miles (4,861 kilometres) and a maximum cruise speed of 450 KTAS.
Two Williams International FJ44-4C engines provide power. The plane will include a Garmin G3000 avionics suite and pilot assistance technologies like auto throttle, auto brake, Emergency Autoland, a runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROASS), and an advanced steering augmentation system (ASAS).
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Source: Honda Aircraft