On December 20, Honda Aircraft achieved a milestone in the development of the HA-420 HondaJet when it flew the first conforming HondaJet, launching the formal flight-test program that will lead to FAA certification next year and first deliveries in the third quarter of 2012. This was also the first flight of the HondaJet powered by the GE Honda Aero HF120 engine, which is more powerful than the Honda-designed and -built HF118 used in the prototype HondaJet. The conforming jet, labeled F1, is also flying with the production cockpit interior, including the Garmin G3000 avionics suite.
Since that first flight by Honda Aircraft chief test pilot Warren Gould, two other company pilots have flown the HondaJet. Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino said that the number of hours flown by the first conforming HondaJet is confidential. But despite challenging weather on the East Coast, test pilots have been able to conduct basic system testing, handling quality evaluation, avionics systems testing, nosewheel steering, landing gear operation and emergency blowdown tests of the landing gear.
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