Colloquium: July 12, 2016

Innovation and Inspiration – The HondaJet

Michimasa Fujino

(video within Langley firewall only)
Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. in the Pearl Young Theater

Abstract

This lecture will trace the history of the development of the world’s most advanced light jet, the HondaJet, from Michimasa Fujino’s hand drawings in 1997 to a certified aircraft in 2015. The HondaJet is the fastest, highest-flying, quietest, and most fuel-efficient jet in its class.

The HondaJet design incorporates many technological innovations including: the Over-The-Wing Engine Mount (OTWEM) configuration, natural laminar flow airfoil and fuselage nose, and composite fuselage. The lecture will discuss how these innovations were reached and how they dramatically improve performance and fuel efficiency by reducing drag. Mr. Fujino will elaborate on how the OTWEM design reduces cabin sound, minimizes ground-detected noise, and provides a spacious cabin. The HA-420 HondaJet received FAA Type Certification and successfully entered service in December 2015.

Speaker

Photo of the speakerMichimasa Fujino is president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. He also serves as a managing officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Fujino rose through the Honda engineering ranks to become a vice president with Honda R&D Americas Inc., and was named the project leader for the HondaJet. He led all engineering tasks from design through experimental verification and flight testing of the HondaJet, which received FAA Type Certification and successfully entered service in December 2015.

Fujino has received numerous awards, including: SAE International Clarence L. Johnson Aerospace Vehicle Design and Development Award (2015); International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences Zhukovsky Award for Innovation in Aeronautics (2014); and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Aircraft Design Award (2012).

Fujino joined Honda R&D Co. Ltd. in 1984 after graduating from Tokyo University with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He resides with his wife and three children in Greensboro, North Carolina.