Taking off in 2026.
Honda Aircraft Company unveiled the HondaJet Echelon (mock-up), the company’s new, upcoming light jet, at the 2023 National Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE). The Echelon was previewed as the HondaJet 2600 concept in 2021. The company is yet to build a working prototype, which is scheduled to begin in 2024, followed by a planned first flight in 2026 and hopefully, certification in 2028. Still, a long way to go, but at least the idea is ready on paper.
The Echelon measures nearly 17.62 metres long with a wingspan of 17.29 metres. It is nearly 5 metres tall. Mounted on the wings are Williams International FJ44-4C turbofan engines—which generate 16.0 kN (3,600 lbs) of thrust each. Max cruise speed is 450 Knots (834 km/h) and max cruise altitude is FL470 (47,000 ft). Take-off and landing distances are 3,300 ft (1,006 metres) and 2,550 ft (777 metres), respectively. The aircraft can carry up to 11 passengers including crew, but with 5 passengers, the range is claimed to be 2,625 nautical miles (4,862 km).
The cockpit is equipped with Garmin G3000 avionics. Other key highlights include: Auto Throttle, Emergency Autoland, Autobrake, Advanced Steering Augmentation System (ASAS) and Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting System (ROAAS). The aircraft offers three seating configurations: Executive (6 seats), Dual Club (8 seats with dual seats facing each other), and Divan (6 seats and a sofa).
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