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.

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Honda Aircraft yesterday provided more details and a new name for its next business jet program, the light-jet category HondaJet Echelon with the model number HA-480. At the EBACE show in May, Honda Aircraft formally announced launch of the then-named Concept 2600, a Part 23 single-pilot light jet that offers midsize jet performance and comfort features. A mockup of the Echelon is installed next to the latest version of the HondaJet, the Elite II, at the NBAA-BACE static display at Henderson Executive Airport.
With transcontinental range of 2,625 nm (NBAA IFR, one pilot, four passengers), the Echelon carries on the unique over-the-wing-engine-mount design of the HondaJet. By mounting the engines on pylons on the wings, engineers can maximize space in the jet’s rear cabin because systems that are required for the engines are also installed in the wings, not in the aft fuselage. This design also reduces noise in the cabin and has aerodynamic benefits that help improve the airplane’s efficiency.&nbsp;
Because the original HA-420 and HA-480 share many design characteristics as well as systems, the Echelon will be certified as an amendment to the original HondaJet’s type certificate. The two airplanes will also share a common type rating, so pilots will be able to fly both versions.
Honda Aircraft has already received signed letters of intent for more than 350 Echelons, according to Amod Kelkar, Honda Aircraft chief commercial officer and Echelon program manager. Many buyers are owner-pilots, including existing HondaJet owners, while others are fractional-share and charter operators. "Our job now is to deliver that product to customers who are eager to get their hands on it,” he said.
The engineering team completed the Echelon’s preliminary design review earlier this year, and critical design review is planned for summer 2024. Fabrication has begun at Honda Aircraft’s Greensboro, North Carolina, headquarters, and rollout of the first Echelon is scheduled for early 2026. Flight testing should begin in 2026 and certification and entry into service are targeted for 2028.&nbsp;
Honda Aircraft is collaborating with Honda North America Automotive Design on the Echelon’s interior furnishings. The interior will be available in three configurations, executive, dual club, and divan. Club-facing seats will be 84 inches from seatback to seatback. Compared to the HondaJet Elite II, the Echelon fuselage will be 4.5 inches taller and one inch wider, with an additional 5.5 inches at shoulder height and 7 inches at the bottom of the seats. Both designs have a trenched center aisle.
Compared to other light jets, according to Honda Aircraft, the Echelon should be 20 percent more efficient “on typical missions” and 40 percent better than midsize jets. It will be powered by two Williams International FJ44-4C turbofans and carry up to 11 occupants. Maximum cruise speed will be 450 ktas and maximum altitude FL470. At FL470, cabin altitude will be 6,363 feet.&nbsp;
Technology features in the Echelon include Garmin’s G3000 avionics suite with Autoland, autobrakes, autothrottles, runway overrun awareness and alerting system, and Honda Aircraft’s advanced steering augmentation system, which optimizes yaw factor during landing and is also installed on the HA-420.
“The commercialization of the Echelon represents Honda’s next chapter in skyward mobility,” said Honda Aircraft president and CEO Hideto Yamasaki. “The HondaJet Echelon was born to create a new category that transcends the travel experience on conventional light jets. Expanding mobility skyward has been Honda’s long-lasting dream, and the HondaJet Echelon marks the exciting next chapter while showcasing a classic Honda story of a product that creates new value for people.”

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