Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Honda Aircraft’s newly formed Advanced Performance Modification Group (APMG) has developed an upgrade package for owners of the original HA-420 HondaJet, offering improved performance and avionics capabilities.

 


The APMG package, which is priced at $250,000, offers a shorter takeoff field length, 100-pound greater maximum takeoff weight (and payload), and upgrades to the HondaJet’s Garmin G3000 avionics suite. The APMG-upgraded HondaJet’s takeoff length is 3,491 feet versus 3,934 feet for the original HondaJet. With mtow climbing to 10,700 pounds, useful load climbs by 100 pounds to 3,501 pounds, and range increases by between 100 nm and 120 nm.

 


“We formed the Advanced Performance Modification Group to ensure existing HondaJet owners can experience improvements no matter when they purchased their HondaJet,” said Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino.

 


A software upgrade to the G3000 flight deck adds more advanced takeoff and landing (TOLD) calculations, Flight Stream 510 wireless gateway compatibility, an enhanced electronic checklist, angle-of-attack indicator on the PFD, and visual approaches. Any authorized HondaJet service center can install the APMG upgrade.

 


The HondaJet was the most-delivered jet in its class during 2017 and the first half of this year, Fujino said. Since unveiling the HondaJet Elite earlier this year, he added, “We’ve had overwhelmingly positive market response.” The Elite added a number of improvements over the original HondaJet, including range to 1,437 nm, lower noise due to perforated honeycomb-sandwich engine inlets, shorter takeoff field length, increased mtow, G3000 improvements, and a Bongiovi Aviation speakerless in-cabin sound system.

 


The HondaJet’s most recent foreign type certification was in India, where the first delivery is expected in the second quarter of 2019. The HondaJet also has received steep-approach approval.

 


Honda Aircraft (Booth 5044, Static SD44) is now delivering four to five HondaJets per month from its Greensboro, North Carolina factory. There are now 92 HondaJets in operation, and they have flown more than 20,000 hours, with a 99.7 percent dispatch rate.

 


The HondaJet Elite is on display this week at the NBAA static display area at Orlando Executive Airport.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

HondaJet Owners Can Improve on Original

An upgrade package for original HondaJets offers increased performance and avionics upgrades.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

Deal to close this year

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

Helsinki Evaluates Hybrid-electric Flight Connections

City officials and a local university are working with manufacturer Electra

Zuri Prepares to Fly Hybrid-electric Cargo Drone

Platform offers 100 kilogram payload and 300 nm range

Jetcraft Bullish on Preowned Business Aircraft Market

Broker says new aircraft production rates and tax changes are key drivers

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN