The experimental, and long-elusive, HondaJet will make its public debut at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.
It is an “advanced, lightweight, compact business jet featuring better fuel efficiency, a larger cabin, and higher cruise speed than conventional aircraft in its class,” according to Honda, which denied the airplane’s existence until its roll-out in December 2003.
The experimental jet is powered by two Honda HF-118 engines, intriguingly positioned on the upper surface of the wing in a configuration said to reduce drag at high speeds and eliminate the need for engine mounts on the fuselage.
The HondaJet has been conducting test flights from its base at Piedmont Triad Airport in Greensboro, N.C., for the past two years. Its appearance at Oshkosh will be its first public flight and first major exposure to aviation enthusiasts and the media.