HondaJet Elite II boosts gross weight, range

Honda expects the newly announced $6.95 million airplane to be ready to deliver by the end of this year with upgrades including a 200-pound gross weight increase and more fuel capacity. The company plans to introduce autothrottle in the first half of 2023 and emergency autoland in the second half of 2023.

“The HondaJet Elite II expands the possibility and the very concept of what’s being called a very light jet,” said Hideto Yamasaki, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft. The new range of 1,547 nautical miles is a 110-nm increase over the previous models, increasing the jet's capability for popular business jet routes such as New York to Florida, he added.

A new fuel capacity greater than 3,100 pounds brings the maximum takeoff weight to 11,100 pounds, and a new ground spoiler optimizes takeoff and landing performance with the increased weight. A redesigned cabin includes new interior design options and acoustic improvements. The model will debut with a new Black Edition paint scheme.

The HondaJet's Garmin G3000-based avionics suite will include features such as aural and visual alerts to maintain a stabilized approach. Autothrottles, which are expected to be available in the first half of 2023, will reduce pilot workload by automating power management and will lay the groundwork for the addition of Garmin Autoland later in the year.

The Elite II will retain the GE Honda Aero Engines HF120s. In keeping with a theme of sustainability at NBAA-BACE, GE Honda Aero Engines announced it had successfully completed testing of the HF120 engine using 100-percent sustainable aviation fuel. The engine currently runs on blends up to 50 percent SAF.