In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Honda embarked on a visionary research program that laid the foundation for its entry into the aircraft manufacturing industry. Some of the first fruits of this endeavor came in the form of a 6-passenger experimental jet airplane, known as the Honda MH02.
Honda collaborated closely with Mississippi State University to bring the MH02 project to life during the assembly phase. This partnership resulted in the birth of the first prototype, designated as type N3079N, in 1992.
Testbed for Honda
The MH02’s inaugural flight occurred on March 5, 1993. Until August of 1996, engineers and pilots subjected the aircraft to rigorous testing, accumulating a total of 170 hours of airborne evaluation and data collection.Flight tests were conducted in order to inform later Honda projects, rather than for the pursuit of certification, production, or commercialization of the MH02 itself.
Characteristics
The MH02's design was characterized by a high-wing orientation tilted forward at a 12 degree angle, constituting a quarter of the wing chord. This unconventional layout, along with a T-type empennage, enabled exceptional low-speed performance on the aircraft, helping it safely operate on runways as short as 3,000 feet. It also earned its place in history as the first all-composite small business jet.The MH02 was powered by two turbofan engines, situated above the main wing roots. This positioning was intended to optimize the aircraft's performance metrics and overall efficiency, and a variation of over-wing engine placement was later utilized on Honda’s production HondaJets.
MH02 Predecessor
The MH02 wasn't Honda's first experimental aircraft; it all began with the MH01. Conceived through a collaboration between Honda and the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory of Mississippi State University, the MH01 demonstrated the incorporation of composite materials into a metal aircraft structure, using the airframe of a Beechcraft Bonanza.Notably, the MH01 also utilized Honda’s uncommon over-wing engine.
Design and Performance
The MH02 experimental jet could accommodate six passengers and was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney JT-15D-1 Turbofan engines, each boasting an impressive engine power of 600 kgf (1,232 lb. st).Standing 11.25 meters long, 11.24 meters wide, and 4.18 meters tall, the MH02 was of modest size. Even so, the aircraft boasted a maximum take-off load capacity of 3,629 kilograms and an estimated maximum speed of 353 knots.
Honda’s MH02 project helped to pave the way for Honda’s later commercial entry into the light business jet segment with the introduction of its HA-420 HondaJet. Design on the new jet destined for production began in 1997 and were completed by 1999.
The HondaJet made its first flight just seven years following the end of MH02’s trials, and eventually received its FAA type certificate on December 3rd, 2015, following some 2,500 hours of test flights. The European Aviation Agency (EASA) followed suite with type certification for the jet in May of 2016, followed by Japan issuing certification in December of 2018.
The HondaJet utilizes features of the MH02, including a composite fuselage and over-the-wing engine mounting.
