Honda Aircraft Begins HondaJet Elite Deliveries

Like a flying sports car, the HondaJet (which went into service about three years ago) is small, sexy, and highly capable—and now it’s even better.

Earlier this week, Honda Aircraft announced that the very first HondaJet Elite, the upgraded version of the company’s signature very light jet, has been delivered to its first new owner.

Though it shares the same DNA, the Elite has some big shoes to fill in replacing the original HondaJet, which was the most delivered jet in its category last year as well as in the first two quarters of this year. And while the exterior remains the same (who would mess around with that sleek beauty?), the new jet boasts a plethora of improved features, both in terms of performance and passenger comfort.

On the mechanical side, the biggest advantage of the Elite over its predecessor is its range increase, which takes the jet from a maximum range of 1,407 miles to around 1,654 miles, an increase of about 17 percent—enough to make it farthest flying jet in its class. The new plane still cruises at about 486 mph and maintains its lauded fuel efficiency.

Inside, your passengers will be able to relax more comfortably thanks to new inlets on HondaJet’s signature over-the-wing engines that help reduce noise—especially of the high frequency variety—in the cabin. New options available to owners include a galley with a coffee machine, two-toned leather seats, and a belted lavatory that increases the number of passengers it can accommodate to six. Perhaps the coolest upgrade is the new speaker-less sound system from Bongiovi Audio, which (much like the Sony Bravia A8F) uses transducers to vibrate the interior panels of the plane to produce audio waves. Talk about surround sound!

Luckily for Honda Aircraft, the new jet is already proving popular. In fact, the company announced that it had recently sold 10 planes in Japan alone—a region it first started servicing in June.

The HondaJet Elite starts from $5.25 million.

BOEING 747-8I 2018 PRIVATE JET STARTING FROM $403 MILLION

The Boeing 747-8 is known as ‘the queen of the skies’, and it is not hard to realise why. The 747-8I 2018 is the latest engineering marvel created by Boeing, and it can be customised to the buyer’s request.

The pre-customisation price starts at $403 million. With an interior area of 4,800 square feet, the super plane can be fitted with an office, boardroom, large bedroom, and a stately dining room. The materials used in the construction of the aircraft are of the highest quality, with no expense spared, to craft a stunning marvel of a jet.

The Boeing 747 was first announced in 2005, since then 125 have been built and sold. Boeing Commercial Airplanes developed the wide-bodied jet airliner. The 747-8, is the third generation version, with considerable upgrades and improvements. It is the most extensive version ever, with a lengthened fuselage, redesigned wings, brand new engines, and substantially improved efficiency. It is, in fact, the longest aeroplane in the world. The non-customised version of the 747-8 can carry over 500 passengers, and it has a range of 8,000 nautical miles. 

The engine technology and design modifications to the newer model create a more aerodynamic design which allows for a more extended range. Furthermore, the 747-8I is 30% quieter, 16% more fuel-efficient, and is the fastest commercial and private jet airliner in the world. The newly designed interior has a redesigned stairwell, with a lengthened upper floor area, and a more spacious main entrance. The windows are 8% larger than the previous 747s, and the plane is equipped with state of the art LED lighting system which can be regulated as desired to create mood lighting.

Gulfstream Announces G500 and G600 Business Jets Delivery

The annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva is one of the year’s most important opportunities for aircraft manufacturers to generate buzz and excitement for their upcoming releases.

And at this year’s conference—which ran from May 28 to 31—Gulfstream made an impressive showing with full displays of its upcoming G500 and G600 models, as well as the brand’s flagship G650ER.

Gulfstream 500 interior

Though Gulfstream did not introduce any brand new models this year (Bombardier debuted the Global 5500 and 6500), it did provide updates regarding its two new upcoming business jets, the G500 and G600. Further along in development, the G500—which made its first appearance at EBACE last year—has just completed function and reliability testing, paving the way for it to receive FAA type certification later in the summer. When the aircraft is finally delivered before the end of the year, it will be able to travel up to Km 9630 (5,984 miles) at 1049 kmh (652 mph) (Mach .85), and seat 19 passengers.

Gulfstream G500  Photo: Courtesy Gulfstream/Matt Stephan

The G600—the bigger, longer-range sibling of the G500—made its European debut at the show. It flew into Geneva from the company’s home in Savannah, Ga., making the trip while traveling at an average speed of 691 mph (Mach .9) and setting a city-pair speed record between the two cities. The G500 isn’t as far along in the certification process as its stablemate, but the company is confident that the jet will have received FAA approval by the end of the year.

Gulfstream G650ER  Photo: Courtesy Gulfstream

The third jet on display wasn’t new—the G650 debuted in 2012, followed two years later by the extended range ER version—but it continues to impress. Gulfstream announced that before the show, the largest, farthest-flying jet in Gulfstream’s portfolio set a new speed record between White Plains, N.Y., and Shanghai, flying over the North Pole to take the shortest route. This latest record is one of more than 70 the multi-time Best of the Best winning G650ER has earned over the years.

If all goes according to plan, Gulfstream has a jam-packed year ahead of it, and we’ll keep you up to date every step of the way.

The New Pilatus Aircraft PC 24 Business Jet

The Pilatus PC-24 twin-engine personal jet is designed to take off and land from very short and unpaved runways, making it easier to fly into smaller airports.

When Pilatus introduced its first-ever jet in 2013, the order book was full to capacity in less than two days. Now deliveries of the PC-24 twin-engine personal jet are expected to start in February, with the first one going to PlaneSense, a fractional operator based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. PlaneSense, which already operates the world’s largest civilian fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops, has ordered six of the jets, which sell for about $8.9 million.

The PC-24 is designed to be “super versatile,” the company says, able to take off and land from very short and even unpaved runways. This capability opens up many options for operators around the world, making it easier to fly into smaller airports that may be closer to a traveler’s ultimate destination. The jet’s spacious cabin seats up to 10. It can be flown by a single pilot, and travels at speeds up to 489 mph for up to 2,244 miles. A large cargo door is standard.

Pilatus displayed the second PC-24 prototype in Las Vegas at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention, held in October. The aircraft is expected to be fully certified by both the European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration soon.

Pilatus, which is based in Switzerland, has been working to develop its customer-service infrastructure to be sure there is plenty of support for the new jet owners. A new customer-service facility that opened in September will provide technical support and spare parts to customers worldwide, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, the company says. Maintenance workers in a global network of authorized service centers have been trained to support the new jet.

The company also has developed a full-motion simulator and a syllabus for pilot training, working with FlightSafety International, which operates a network of training centers around the world. A re-opening of the order book is expected to be announced sometime next year.

The Skyacht One is a flying luxury superyacht

You might think that private jets are luxurious by definition, and while this might be true, there are definitely different levels of luxury available.

As its name suggests Skyacht One blends the incredible extravagance of a superyacht with the convenience of a private jet. Designed to cater to the needs of the world’s richest individuals, the airplane is based on an Embraer Flagship Lineage 1000E, which means that it boasts a range of 4,600 nautical miles.

Its interior offers more than 4,000 cubic feet of space, and it comprises a conference room as well as a main cabin with a cocktail bar, a comfortable sofa, a TV and a lavish master suite that impresses with its own bathroom, shower and plush bed. Other details include mahogany paneling, rich leather elements and an intelligent lighting system that changes its color depending on what view can be admired through the roof-mounted SkyPorts.

Priced at Euro 76,3 Million ($83 million), Skyacht One definitely brings a new meaning to the term “luxury.”

More info

The Cobalt Co50 Valkyrie Is the Personal Piston Plane of the Future

Cobalt company from San Francisco, is engaged in aviation and has a special mission...

Their goal is the transformation of private jets, creating a new range of private jets, which are modern, stylish and incredibly fast, and bear the name of the Valkyrie.

With the possibility of reaching a maximum speed of 480 km / h, Valkyrie series contains two classes of engines, and they both have a capacity of five seats and complete personalization of the interior and exterior. These innovative private planes are not only technologically advanced and safe, they are also incredibly luxurious.

The design of this private jet reveals the influence of classic fighter aircraft for obvious reasons, with simple, elegant lines and premium finishing details. Customers who want to buy one of these planes can choose who they want to finish while the interior includes hand-made leather seats and simple layout.

Also, you should know that Valkyrie series has a smaller wing, which provides better stability and control, keeps the plane in balance while flying. Pilots can now enjoy a safe takeoff and landing, while those parachutes that are a mandatory part of every aircraft are held there, more as a decorative object, rather than something that will be really necessary.