Honda began to study small sized business jets in the late 1980s, using engines from other manufacturers. The Honda SHM-1/MH01 turboprop tested laminar flow wings,[5] and the Honda MH02 was fabricated and assembled at Mississippi State University's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The MH02 was a prototype using carbon fiber/epoxy composite materials.[6] Flight testing on the MH02 continued through 1996, after which the aircraft was shipped to Japan.
Designer Michimasa Fujino sketched the HondaJet in 1997, and the concept was locked in 1999. Testing in the Boeingwindtunnel indicated a valid concept in 1999.[5][7]
A proof-of-concept (but not production-ready) version of HondaJet first flew on 3 December 2003 at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.[8]Honda approved commercial development of the HondaJet in 2004.[9] The HondaJet made its world debut on 28 July 2005, at EAA AirVenture (Oshkosh Airshow).[10] Honda announced on 25 July 2006 at Oshkosh Airshow that it would commercialize the HondaJet.[11]
The production aircraft are built at Piedmont Triad Airport. Construction of the factory began in 2007 and was completed in late 2011.[12][13] The first FAA-conforming[clarification needed] (built to Federal Aviation Administration rules) HondaJet achieved its first flight on 20 December 2010.[14] First flight of the production HondaJet occurred on 27 June 2014,[15][16][17] and the plane was flown and shown at Oshkosh Airshow on 28 July 2014.[18][19][20] Four HondaJets have testflown 2,500 hours as of 2015.[21]
HondaJet got "Provisional FAA Certification" in March 2015, enabling continued production[2][22][23] and demonstration flights, but not customer delivery.[24][25] The factory assembly line is at full capacity at 12 planes,[23] however 20 planes were in production by May 2015.[26]
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