The HondaJet Elite II is the latest evolution of Honda’s aircraft that can fly further than ever before and land itself in an emergency. The company introduced it in a new Black Edition livery with a dark body and red stripes.
The Elite II has increased fuel capacity giving it a maximum flight range of 1,547 nautical miles (1,780 miles or 2,865 kilometers) with four passengers instead of 1,437 nautical miles (1,654 miles or 2,661 kilometers) for existing Elite and Elite S models. Maximum take-off weight increases to 11,100 pounds (5,035 kilograms), compared to 10,700 pounds (4,854 kilograms) for the Elite and 10,900 pounds (4,944 kilograms) for the Elite S. However, the combined storage space drops to 62 cubic feet while the existing Elite model offers 66 cubic feet.
Honda added the Elite II feature that makes it easier for pilots to fly the plane. The new model has an assisted steering which helps turn the nose wheel to simplify travel. Ground spoiler automatically drags on rejected landing or takeoff to help slow down.
Once in the air, the Elite is available with an optional Autothrottle system that automatically adjusts “power management based on desired flight characteristics,” according to the company. The Emergency Autoland option can independently land the aircraft without human intervention in an emergency situation.
Inside the cabin, the Elite II is available in two new color schemes: Onyx “greige” with wood accents or Steel gray with marble trim. There’s also a new herringbone and hardwood plank flooring pattern. Crew seats are available with three inches of extra legroom thanks to the extended track.
The Elite II uses the same GE Honda HF120 jet engine. Maximum cruising speed was unchanged at 422 knots (486 miles per hour or 782 kilometers per hour).
Last year, Honda introduced the HondaJet 2600 Concept as a demonstration model with a longer maximum range. That could cover 2,625 nautical miles (3,021 miles or 4,861 kilometers), which is enough to complete a non-stop coast-to-coast flight across the United States. Plus, the maximum cruising speed is increased to 450 knots (518 mph or 833 kph).
