Honda Aircraft Co. announced Monday that it has achieved the first successful test flight for its business jet production, called HondaJet.
The test, which was held near Honda Aircraft's headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., brings the Japanese company one step closer to having HondaJet receive certification and go into service in 2015, according to USA Today.
"With this first flight, the HondaJet program has entered the next exciting phase as we prepare for delivery," said Michimasa Fujino, CEO of Honda Aircraft. "This is an important achievement in bringing the world's most advanced light jet to market."
Honda has spent decades manufacturing the aircraft, beginning research on composite planes in 1993, developing the turbofan engine in 1998, and pledging to commercialize production in 2006.
The company ran the first test flight of its production version of the jet on June 27th, The Wall Street Journal reported. The plane lifted off from the Piedmont Triad International Airport and reached 15,500 feet. The flight lasted for 84 minutes, and Honda said the jet reached a speed close to 644 kilometers per hour.
Orders for the $4.5 million jet are being taken from North America and Europe. HondaJet will face competition from other small planes from Textron Inc.'s Cessna Aircraft Co., Cirrus Aircraft Co., Embraer SA and other established companies.
Test-pilot Warren Gould flew the jet, which went through several chucks during its flight for avionics and low and high speed handling characteristics. The crew also checked on system functionality, such as flaps, landing gear and speed brake operations, myfox8.com reported.
The HondaJet has a maximum altitude of 43,000 feet, seats up to five passengers and can fly at an NBAA IFR range of 1,180 nautical miles (1,357 miles).
The jet's successful test flight comes at a time when Japanese companies are trying to get more involved in the global aircraft market, which is currently dominated mostly by North American, Brazilian and European companies, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Honda said last year that it believes some customers will buy the plane for family trips and other personal uses.
