Honda doesn't do conventional. When they decided to build a jet, they didn't copy Cessna or Embraer. They asked: Why are engines always on the tail?

The answer became - The Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM): a configuration that freed up cabin space, reduced noise, and improved aerodynamic efficiency. The HondaJet HA-420 for sale, certified in 2015, was the most unconventional VLJ ever built - and it worked.

The Physics of Different

Moving engines from the tail to above the wings wasn't just styling. It allowed a Natural Laminar Flow wing that reduces drag by 10%. It created room for a full-size cabin in an aircraft that handles like a sports car. It made the HondaJet the Fastest, Highest - Flying, most efficient VLJ in its class.

The HondaJet received FAA type certification in December 2015. A few years later, Honda Aircraft was reporting strong delivery numbers for the aircraft. In 2017, HondaJet was the most delivered jet in its category, with 43 aircraft delivered.
That got the industry's attention.

The HondaJet is certified for single-pilot operation, which matters to an owner who actually intends to fly the aircraft rather than simply sit in the back.

The cockpit is built around Garmin avionics, and the aircraft is designed for high-altitude, high-speed operation.

At FL430, you are operating above much of the weather and commercial traffic you deal with lower down. Of course, that does not make weather disappear. It just gives the pilot more options.

That's what I like about aircraft.
Options matter.

Three Things I Like About the HondaJet:

The engine installation.
It is unusual, but there is a real aerodynamic and packaging reason behind it.

The altitude.
43,000 feet is serious altitude for an aircraft of this size.

The size.
For an owner whose normal mission is a few passengers rather than a large group, a very light jet can be exactly the right answer.

And there is a fourth thing worth mentioning.
People know the Honda name.
That does not make an aircraft better. But it does make the HondaJet memorable, and on the ramp you will rarely confuse it with anything else.

This is where I would slow down before making a purchase.

The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 offers a published range of around 1,550 nm and a maximum cruise speed of 404 ktas.

The Embraer Phenom 100EX is published at around 1,178 nm with four occupants under NBAA IFR reserves and a high-speed cruise of 406 ktas.

The HondaJet sits in the same conversation, but the aircraft are not identical in the way they approach the mission.

So don't buy the brochure.

Look at your routes.
Look at the number of people you normally carry. Look at baggage. Look at where you are based. Then look at the actual aircraft available for sale.
That usually gives you a much better answer.

The HondaJet HA-420 proved that outsiders can disrupt aviation. That engineering courage beats industry tradition. That a car company can build a better jet than aircraft companies.

For the buyer seeking a HondaJet, you're choosing the aircraft that dared to be different - and won. The jet that says innovation isn't about following rules; it's about questioning them.

When a client asks us for a HondaJet HA-420 for sale, we don't want to send ten links and tell him to choose one.

Give us the mission first:

• How many passengers?
• Which routes?
• How much range do you need?
• What year or configuration do you prefer?
• What are your requirements for engines, maintenance and avionics?
• Where will the aircraft be registered and operated?

We will search the open market and our off-market network and come back with aircraft that fit the requirement.