Honda Aircraft Company reveals new HondaJet Elite II, the fastest flying aircraft in its class

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                                                               City of Burlington

Economic Development Department


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Image Source: HondaJet

Honda Aircraft Company revealed the HondaJet Elite II at the 2022 National Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) as their latest upgraded aircraft on October 17, 2022. The new aircraft has been upgraded to be “the fastest, highest, and farthest flying aircraft in its class, achieving a whole new level of performance that redefines what it means to be a very light jet.” 

Honda Aircraft Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Honda Aircraft founded their world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2007, and is home to “all HondaJet research, product engineering, sales and marketing, and service support.” Choosing the state for its history as the “First in Flight” in the country, Honda Aircraft has made significant investment in North Carolina, including a $15.5 million expansion of its production facility in 2019. Today, the company employs over 1,500 people, and houses the world’s most advanced light business jet, the HondaJet Elite II. 

“The HondaJet Elite II once again pushes the boundaries of its category on all fronts of performance, comfort, and style,” said Hideto Yamasaki, President & CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. “We are also excited to take our aircraft forward on the journey of automation by bringing new technologies to the market next year.” 

turbofan engineLike all HondaJet aircrafts, the Elite II will feature the HF120 turbofan engine, manufactured by GE Honda Aero Engines in Burlington, North Carolina. The HF120 engine features a compact and lightweight design in the 2,000-pound thrust class, making it the most fuel-efficient engine in its class and an essential contribution to the range and speed of HondaJet models. Honda conducts parts procurement, assembly, and testing of every HF120 for the family of HondaJets in this Burlington facility, located adjacent to the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport.

Image Source: ENGINE MAX

The Elite II builds on the already innovative work of the original HondaJet Elite, featuring the Over-the-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration it is known for, Natural Laminar Flow nose and wing, and composite fuselage. With more automation and augmentation, including customized avionics technology based on the Garmin G3000®, Honda Aircraft “enhances operational safety and reduces pilot workload for more efficient operations.” At $6.95 million, the Elite II will hold 11 passengers and have the engine capacity to fly nonstop transcontinental across the nation with a range 1,547 nautical miles and a high-seed cruise of 450 knots.



Isabella DeLaGarza, EYOS Fellow

City Contact
Isabella DeLaGarza
425 S. Lexington Ave. 
Burlington, NC 27215
idelagarza@burlingtonnc.gov
burlingtonnc.gov/ed