Honda Aircraft achieves first flight of third FAA-conforming HondaJet

Honda Aircraft Company reported that the third FAA design-conforming HondaJet aircraft, referred to as “F2,” has been conducting extensive flight testing since its first flight on Nov. 18, 2011. This milestone marks important progress toward the HondaJet’s certification. The F2 aircraft’s first flight test began with engine startup at 2:04pm Eastern Time and lift-off at 2:21, on Nov. 18, 2011, from Honda Aircraft Company’s world headquarters at Greensboro’s Piedmont Triad International Airport. The team completed a variety of checks in this first flight, including: takeoff and climb; landing gear operation; flap operations; aircraft handling; air data system checks with instrumentation; and an Instrument Landing System approach using the flight director. Overall, the aircraft performed quite well, according to the pilots and telemetry teams.