Tag Archives: hondajet

HondaJet Shapes Are Fascinating

This HondaJet had come from outside the US, so it had to clear customs at BFI after landing.  That put it right in front of me while I was waiting for something else (although I can’t remember what it was).  I find the jet very interesting although I am frustrated by the way in which all the ones I see have the same paint scheme with only a change in what color is used.  Since this one parked up near me, I got to look at it from a variety of angles and that is a good way to appreciate the unusual shapes the airframe has.

The pylons are cambered and the way in which the nacelles sit on the wing is more easily appreciated from behind.  It is great to have something different.  I look forward to seeing the big brother when it makes it into service.  A shame that Honda seems to have given up on their own engines but not a massive surprise.

Will I Ever Get a HondaJet In The Sun?

When I find out that a HondaJet is in the area, I do try to get a shot of it.  It is such an unusual design, I am hoping to get a good shot of one.  Sadly, two things seem to be conspiring against me.  First, they all seem to have a variation on the same paint scheme.  No doubt you can paint it how you like but they almost all seem to look similar.  The second thing is that I always seem to get them in cloudy conditions.  This doesn’t stop me trying though.  I have even got one in a better livery but not with good light.  However, these are the recent examples I have seen.  Maybe I will get a shot of one that I am happy with at some point.

HondaJets in the Murk

I was pondering what to do with a day off.  I was struggling to come up with a plan and the weather was not ideal for photography but I then saw that not one but two HondaJets were due in to Boeing Field within an hour of each other.  I have only shot one flying before and it was very distant so I figured this would be the motivation to get me out.

The sky was very overcast with a grey background that made me hope for planes painted in an interesting color scheme.  Unfortunately, both jets were in Honda schemes with grey as the main paint so they were hardly ideal for shooting in such conditions.  However, I didn’t have much of a choice so I got both of them on the approach.  If only one of them could have been a bit more colorful.

As I was heading off to my next stop, I drove past the Kenmore ramp and saw that one of them was parked up there.  A quick diversion in and I added a ground shot of one of the jets.  Not sure where the other one was parked but I would assume it was on Modern’s ramp.

HondaJet

This HondaJet was on an FBO ramp at Paine Field.  I have seen one close up at Oshkosh and a few at a distance while flying but this was the closest I had got to one in the wild.  It is certainly a curious looking jet.  The engine mounts are the focus of a lot of attention but I am also a little put off by the front fuselage shaping around the cockpit windows.  Having only one product doesn’t seem like a sustainable approach but maybe Honda has ideas for more to come.  If they do, we shall see if they continue with this design philosophy or go in a different direction.