HondaJet has been a success and its latest product is a careful evolution of the proven recipe with key changes. The Elite II also gets new automation technologies along with an increased range. Amongst light aircraft, the HondaJet Elite II has amongst the highest range of 1,547 nm it is also accessible to more destinations now. It can also carry more fuel now. The addition of ground spoilers also helps in better take-off and landing while also being an important performance upgrade.
By the end of 2023, features like Autothrottle and Emergency Autoland would also be added. That is due to the Garmin G3000 Avionics system which adds a new layer of technology and makes flying easier. The Elite II has a HondaJet avionics suite where there are features like Stabilized Approach which assists the pilot with aural and visual alerts to maintain a stable aircraft state on approach plus Autothrottle which brings in more automation of the power management across the flight. The second half of 2023 will also see the addition of Emergency Autoland with the aforementioned Garmin Autoland which activates in an emergency and autonomously controls plus lands the aircraft without human intervention. This means that the aircraft can also be operated with one pilot.
A new black paint scheme lends the HondaJet Elite II a sportier look that drifts away from the usual jet styling themes. The red strips further break the monotony of the lines. Inside, there are new colors on offer including Onyx and steel while there is new aisle flooring, acoustic enhancements ground illumination on the main entry door, and LED lighting. The acoustic upgrade is crucial as the engineers have made the cabin quieter and the refinement is much better now. Some more critical updates also include an additional 3 inches of legroom configuration available for crew seats with extended seat tracks.
Amongst light jets, the HondaJet has been one of the best-selling ones and these updates to the newest iteration are indeed a welcome move. In terms of competition, there is Embraer and the Cessna but the HondaJet, for now, has had a lead here while the refinement, space, and performance have impressed while it has the agility of even smaller planes. A price-tag north of $6.95 million makes it easily the most expensive ‘Honda’ but it makes light aircraft more desirable along with added practicality. The longer range added technology features plus the new interior will make it a better choice now.
