Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
A HondaJet Elite on the production line.
- The Honda HA-420 HondaJet Elite is one of the most advanced light private jets in the world.
- The HA-420 is Honda's first foray into the business of aircraft design and manufacturing.
- In 2006, the Honda Aircraft Company was set up to commercialize the HondaJet with its headquarters based in Greensboro, North Carolina.
- Here's a closer look at Honda Aircraft's sprawling Greensboro campus.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The Honda HA-420, known to most people as simply the HondaJet, is one of the most impressive and innovative light business jets on the market. The HondaJet is the culmination of three decades worth of research and development led by aerospace engineer Michimasa Fujino.
Fujino told Business Insider that the Japanese automaker's foray into aviation was initially a closely held secret. In fact, even company Soichiro Honda was not told of the project.
By 2003, the HondaJet was ready to fly. Three years later, the Honda Aircraft Company was established with Fujino as its CEO.
Read more: We flew on Honda's new $5.25 million private jet. Here are its coolest features.
In the fall of 2017, Business Insider had the chance to experience the HondaJet first hand on a test flight over the Northeastern United States. It was magnificent. The HondaJet proved to be quick, comfortable, and chock full of innovative design features.
In 2018, Honda introduced an updated version of the plane called the HondaJet Elite. The name matches with the designation given to the company's luxury spec automobiles. Earlier this year, we traveled to the company's headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina for a test flight of the Honda Jet Elite.
With redesigned wings and engine intakes, the Elite is even quieter and more aerodynamic than the original HondaJet. At $5.25 million, the Elite costs around $350,000 more than its predecessor.
As part of our day at Honda Aircraft headquarters, we also got the chance to tour the company's production facility and delivery center.
Here's a closer look: