Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Honda Aircraft’s first production HondaJet made its first flight last week, from the company’s headquarters in Greensboro, N.C. Taking off at 10:18 a.m. on June 27, the HondaJet, with test pilot Warren Gould at the controls, flew for 84 minutes and reached 15,500 feet and 348 ktas. During the flight, checks included low- and high-speed handling characteristics, Garmin G3000 avionics functionality and operation of the landing gear, flaps and speed brakes.


More than 1,000 Honda Aircraft employees greeted the flight after it landed. Painted in a new color available to buyers–deep green pearl with a gold stripe–the jet is the first of a batch of production models that will be completed and ready for immediate delivery after FAA certification next year.


“With this first flight, the HondaJet program has entered the next exciting phase as we prepare for delivery,” said Honda Aircraft president and CEO Michimasa Fujino.


The GE Honda Aero-powered HondaJet has a maximum speed of 420 ktas and maximum altitude of 43,000 feet. NBAA IFR range is 1,180 nm, and the single-pilot jet can accommodate up to five passengers in standard configuration.

First Production HondaJet Takes To The Skies

First flight of the first production HondaJet is another step toward entry into service early next year. ###Channels###BA

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN