If you’re interested in purchasing a HondaJet, you may be wondering what sets it apart from other jets in its category. The HondaJet is one of four jets in the Very Light Jet (VLJ) category currently being produced, with production starting in 2015. Since then, it’s been the second most popular in the segment, behind the Cirrus VisionJet.

One of the most distinctive features of the HondaJet is its over-the-wing engine design, which gives it a unique appearance. But the HondaJet isn’t just about looks – it’s also one of the fastest VLJs currently in production, with a top speed of 420 knots. It has a 4,000-foot-per-minute climb rate and a realistic range of about a thousand miles. If you’re looking for a long-range cruise, the low 40 thousands is the sweet spot, with a speed of about 360 knots and a fuel burn of less than 600 pounds.

Key Takeaways

  • The HondaJet is one of four jets in the VLJ category currently being produced, with production starting in 2015.
  • The HondaJet’s over-the-wing engine design gives it a unique appearance, but it’s also one of the fastest VLJs currently in production.
  • The HondaJet has a realistic range of about a thousand miles and a top speed of 420 knots.

HondaJet Overview

If you’re in the market for a very light jet, the HondaJet is one of the four jets in the VLJ category currently being produced. Since its production in 2015, it has been the second most popular in the segment, with the Cirrus VisionJet leading the segment by a country mile and the Cessna Citation M2 being a close third behind the old HondaJet.

Honda’s goal when designing this jet was to make it look weird, which they accomplished with the over-the-wing engine design. In terms of performance, this plane is fast, with a maximum speed of 420 knots, making it the fastest VLJ currently in production. However, actual crew speeds tend to be closer to 360 knots, which saves a ton of fuel. It also has a top-notch 4,000-foot-per-minute climb rate and a realistic range of about a thousand miles. If you really push it, you can go up to 1400 miles.

The GE Honda HF120 engine, which was built with the help of General Electric, is also a baller move. It has a 5,000-hour TBO and no hot section, but it’s not cheap.

When you add it all up, you’ll see that the numbers are surprisingly low, and here’s why. When folks estimate the costs of larger planes, they include things that I usually don’t. The biggest one is crew cost, sometimes two pilots plus benefits plus relocation fees. You’ll also see recurrency training, ground handling fees, subscriptions, management, and even catering.

On this channel, though, we just talk about buying a plane and flying it yourself, so no crew fees. You will need recurrency training, but that’s really just more time in the plane. If you fly 200 hours a year, probably 5 or 10 of those will be just for training. Ground fees vary widely depending on where you fly and are not airplane-specific. There are hundreds of airports around where there are no fees, so if you want to fly into really popular, busy airports, there’ll be fees for that. As for catering, there is a bathroom on board, so you can go for the taco bell.

In conclusion, if you just want to buy a HondaJet and go fly, awesome! Providing you’re qualified to do so, this is basically what you’re looking at. Just know that it only goes up from here.

Performance Specifications

The HondaJet is one of the four Very Light Jets (VLJ) currently in production. It was introduced in 2015 and has been the second most popular in the segment. The over-the-wing engine design of the HondaJet gives it a unique and somewhat unusual appearance, which was the primary goal of Honda when designing this jet.

In terms of performance, the HondaJet is the fastest VLJ currently in production, with a maximum speed of 420 knots. However, actual cruising speeds tend to be closer to 360 knots, which saves a significant amount of fuel. The HondaJet also has a top-notch climb rate of 4,000 feet per minute and a realistic range of about 1,000 miles. If you push the throttle to the maximum, you can fly up to 1,400 miles.

The GE Honda HF120 engine used in the HondaJet was developed by Honda and General Electric. It has a 5,000-hour Time Between Overhaul (TBO) and no hot section, but it is quite expensive.

If you want to fly at 420 knots, you need to be between 30,000 and 35,000 feet and burn close to 1,100 pounds of fuel per hour. For long-range cruising, the best altitude is in the low 40 thousands, where you’ll travel at about 360 knots and burn less than 600 pounds of fuel per hour.

The HondaJet is an excellent choice for those who want to buy a plane and fly it themselves. It’s important to note that as planes get larger, they get more expensive and complex to own. However, with the HondaJet, you can simply buy it and fly it, as long as you’re qualified to do so.

Purchasing Options

If you’re interested in purchasing a HondaJet, you have a few options. You can head to a Honda dealership and pick one up yourself, or you can explore other purchasing options. Keep in mind that the HondaJet is a very expensive aircraft, so you may want to consider other options if you’re on a budget.

When it comes to performance, the HondaJet is one of the fastest Very Light Jets (VLJs) currently in production. It has a top speed of 420 knots, although actual crew speeds tend to be closer to 360 knots, which saves a lot of fuel. It also has a climb rate of 4,000 feet per minute and a realistic range of about a thousand miles, although you can go up to 1400 miles if you really push it.

If you want to fly at 420 knots, you’ll need to be between 30 and 35,000 feet and burn close to 1100 pounds an hour. For long-range cruising, the low 40 thousands is best. You’ll travel at about 360 knots and burn less than 600 pounds, which averages out to about 800 pounds or $600.

When it comes to purchasing a HondaJet, keep in mind that the costs of larger planes often include crew cost, recurrency training, ground handling fees, subscriptions, management, and catering. However, if you just want to buy a HondaJet and fly it yourself, you won’t have to worry about crew fees. You will need recurrency training, but that’s just more time in the plane. Ground fees vary widely depending on where you fly, and there are plenty of airports where there are no fees. As for catering, there is a bathroom on board, so you can bring your own food or stop for fast food on the way.

Overall, if you’re qualified to fly a HondaJet and have the budget for it, it’s an excellent aircraft that delivers exceptional performance and style.

Fuel Efficiency

The HondaJet is known for its fuel efficiency, making it a popular choice among private jet owners. At a long-range cruise of about 360 knots, the HondaJet burns less than 600 pounds of fuel per hour, which is equivalent to 120 gallons or about $600.

To fly at a speed of 420 knots, you’ll need to be between 30 and 35,000 feet and burn close to 1,100 pounds of fuel per hour. However, actual cruise speeds tend to be closer to 360 knots, which saves a ton of fuel.

The HondaJet’s over-the-wing engine design also contributes to its fuel efficiency. With a climb rate of 4,000 feet per minute, the HondaJet has a realistic range of about a thousand miles. If you really push it, you can go up to 1,400 miles.

Overall, the HondaJet’s fuel efficiency is impressive, especially for a private jet that can reach speeds of up to 420 knots.

Engine Details

The HondaJet is equipped with the GE Honda HF120 engine, which was developed by Honda with the assistance of General Electric. The engine has a 5,000-hour time between overhaul (TBO) and no hot section, making it a reliable choice for the HondaJet.

The HondaJet’s over-the-wing engine design gives it a unique appearance, which was one of Honda’s primary goals when designing the jet. The aircraft’s performance is impressive, with a maximum speed of 420 knots, making it the fastest Very Light Jet (VLJ) currently in production. However, actual cruising speeds tend to be closer to 360 knots, which saves a significant amount of fuel. The HondaJet also boasts a climb rate of 4,000 feet per minute and a realistic range of about 1,000 miles. If you push the throttle to the limit, you can fly up to 1,400 miles.

To achieve a speed of 420 knots, you must fly between 30,000 and 35,000 feet and burn approximately 1,100 pounds of fuel per hour, according to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH). For long-range cruising, the best altitude is in the low 40 thousands, where you can travel at around 360 knots and burn less than 600 pounds of fuel. Ground handling fees vary depending on where you fly, and there are hundreds of airports where there are no fees.

Overall, the HondaJet is an excellent choice for those who want to buy a plane and fly it themselves. It’s fast, reliable, and fuel-efficient, making it a great option for anyone looking for a VLJ.

Cost Analysis

When it comes to buying a Honda Jet, it’s important to understand the costs associated with owning and operating one. While the HondaJet is one of the fastest Very Light Jets (VLJ) on the market, it’s also one of the most expensive. Here’s what you need to know about the costs:

  • To fly at its maximum speed of 420 knots, you’ll need to be at an altitude of 30-35,000 feet and burn close to 1,100 pounds of fuel per hour.
  • For long-range cruising, it’s best to fly in the low 40 thousands at about 360 knots and burn less than 600 pounds of fuel per hour.
  • The GE Honda HF 120 engine, which was built in-house by Honda with the help of General Electric, has a 5,000-hour time between overhauls (TBO) and no hot section. However, it is not cheap.
  • When estimating the costs of owning a larger plane, crew costs are often included. However, if you plan to fly the HondaJet yourself, you won’t have to worry about crew fees. Recurrency training will be necessary, but it’s just more time in the plane.
  • Ground fees can vary widely depending on where you fly, but there are many airports where there are no fees. Catering is also not a major expense since there is a bathroom on board.

Overall, owning a HondaJet is a significant investment, but if you’re qualified to fly it yourself and don’t mind the costs, it can be an incredible experience. Just keep in mind that as planes get larger, they get more expensive and complex to own.

Additional Costs

When estimating the costs of owning a jet, there are several factors to consider. For the HondaJet, crew costs are not included since we are assuming that you will be flying the plane yourself. However, you will need to undergo recurrency training, which typically takes up around 5 to 10 hours of your total flight time per year. Ground handling fees vary depending on where you fly, but there are many airports where there are no fees at all.

If you plan to fly into popular and busy airports, there will be fees for that. Catering is not included in the costs since there is a bathroom on board, but you can always bring your own food.

When it comes to fuel costs, if you want to fly at 420 knots, you’ll need to be between 30 and 35,000 feet and burn close to 1,100 pounds per hour. For long-range cruises, the low 40 thousands are best, where you’ll travel at about 360 knots and burn less than 600 pounds per hour.

Overall, while the HondaJet is an excellent aircraft, it’s important to keep in mind that owning a jet comes with additional costs beyond the initial purchase price.

Conclusion

In summary, the HondaJet is a top contender in the very light jet (VLJ) category. While the Cirrus VisionJet leads the segment, the HondaJet is the fastest VLJ currently in production, reaching speeds of up to 420 knots. Its over-the-wing engine design not only makes it look unique, but also contributes to its impressive 4,000-foot-per-minute climb rate.

The HondaJet has a realistic range of about a thousand miles, but can reach up to 1400 miles if you really push it. Its GE Honda HF 120 engine, built with the help of General Electric, has a 5,000-hour TBO and no hot section.

While the HondaJet is expensive, it’s important to note that the costs of larger planes often include crew costs, recurrency training, ground handling fees, subscriptions, management, and even catering. However, if you just want to buy a HondaJet and fly it yourself, it’s a great option as long as you’re qualified to do so.

Overall, as planes get larger, they become more expensive and complex to own. The HondaJet offers a simpler option for those looking to own their own jet and fly it themselves.

My name is Sean Walsh, and I'm the founder and writer of this website. For as far back as I can remember, I've always been interested in flying. A few years ago, I passed my check ride and got my PPL certificate! I'm now a private pilot with over 500 hours of flying time. Read more about me here.