The HondaJet certification program progressed one important step further as Honda Aircraft Company’s test pilot, Warren Gould, pushed the throttles forward at the end of last week on the first production HondaJet at the headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The first flight lasted 84 minutes, during which the twinjet climbed as high as 15,500 feet and reached a cruise speed of 348 knots, well below the max altitude of 43,000 and top speed of 420 knots. Low- and high-speed handling characteristics as well as the functionality of the avionics, landing gear, flaps and speed brakes were the focus of this initial flight. After the flight the flight test crew was greeted by more than 1,000 HondaJet employees to celebrate the achievement.
