Honda Motor Co. will enter the aircraft production and sales business, published reports said Tuesday, amid expectations the automaker will soon sell small jets its CEO has previously called the “Honda Civic of the sky.”
The automaker successfully tested the four- to five-passenger twin-engine Honda Jet, equipped with Honda-designed engines called HF118, in December 2003.
Honda conducted its first public demonstration flight of the jet at a 2005 air show in Oshkosh, Wis.
The company has said the plane, which chief executive Takeo Fukui has referred to as the “Honda Civic of the sky,” is designed to be more fuel efficient than conventional small jets and could fly 1,100 miles before needing to refuel.
Although they probably won’t be built in the US, Honda has an alliance with New Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach.
That’s what I call diversification.
Go check out the corp that makes Sea Doo
Whoa…
I want to mod that sucker out and put on big ass spoiler and a nitrous system too!
Who wants to race for pink slips…?
ECA — Bombardier was building planes before Sea Doos.
Don’t forget airplanes are the US no. 1 export!!! Another clear sign that the end is nigh (for the US, at least)?
There is something about “Honda Civic of the sky,” that doesn’t exactly leave me with a high level of confidence in something capable of flight.
Could be worse. At least its not the Geo Metro of the sky.
I have never owned a better car than a honda civic ….so i would be very happy t o fly in one. by the way Bombardier built Ski Doo’s for 30 years before they built sea doo’s and they also build about 80% of the world trains and subway cars!
I’ll be in Oshkosh the rest of the week for the airshow…nice jet.
4 — Bombardier has sold it recreational vehicle division which includes all SeaDoos, SkiDoos, etc..
My understanding is that the really big deal is the Honda engines. They’re not just old Pratt & Whitney engines designed for cruise missiles like the competition is using. Evidently the shape of the fuselage is dead on also.
It sounds great, with Honda’s reputation for quality.
Will there also be a hybrid version? 😉
The Honda Civic has a reputation (well deserved) as the most reliable car around. In a jet, with only velocity keeping me from becoming a red smear on the ground, reliability is everything.
The greatest luxury is life, after all.