A new rival to small jets will come on the market later than originally anticipated. Honda Aircraft Company has announced that a delay in receiving critical components for conforming aircraft production for its HondaJet will result in later deliveries to customers.

The company is partnering with aerospace industry suppliers for the manufacture of major subassemblies utilising proprietary Honda designs and technologies. "First customer delivery, originally scheduled for late 2010, is projected in the fourth quarter of 2011 following completion of FAA flight-testing certification," says Michimasa Fujino, president and ceo.

The company says it is pleased with the progress in establishing the new world headquarters campus in Greensboro, North Carolina, where the HondaJet is being developed and will be manufactured. The campus complex incorporates all engineering, sales, support, marketing, and administration functions. The recently completed world R&D centre on campus houses the ongoing construction of conforming aircraft. The R&D facility also houses the world delivery centre for all HondaJet aircraft.

"Our production facility will incorporate not only production functions, but also world-class flight training facilities," says Fujino. "The HondaJet incorporates many innovative technological advances."

Well over 100 of the US$3.9 million HondaJets have been ordered. The HondaJet proof-of-concept aircraft has accumulated more than 425 flight test hours and attained a top speed of 420 knots and a maximum altitude of 43,000 ft in flight testing, he adds.