July
2004
Honda
Expands Aviation Engine Operations
TOKYO – Honda Motor today announced it has completed registration
procedures for a new US subsidiary, Honda Aero Inc, to focus on
the aviation engine business in the world’s largest aviation market.
Preparations
for the company’s establishment, by the end of the year, are now
underway. In addition, Honda has newly established the Wako Nishi
R&D Centre in Japan, dedicated to the research and development of
aviation engines. This new centre will consolidate and strengthen
the jet engine development from the Wako Research Centre and development
of piston aircraft engines at Asaka R&D Centre.
In the meantime,
the Wako Research Centre will continue its R&D efforts for HondaJet,
the experimental prototype aircraft currently undergoing test flights
in the US.
Honda Aero
Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda, will be responsible for
Honda’s aviation engine business, including such functions as contract
negotiations, procurement, and preparations for production. Honda
Aero will prepare for commercialisation of the HF118 turbofan jet
engine, marking Honda’s first step into the jet engine business.
Honda’s research
efforts for small jet engines and jet aircraft began in 1986. Development
of the HF118 engine, which fits in the smallest category of the
business jet engine class, began in 1999. Full-scale flight tests
of Honda’s prototype aircraft, HondaJet, equipped with the HF118
engine, have been carried out since December 2003.
The HF118
engine is designed for light business jets, a category with an annual
market of 150 to 200 units, and where further growth is expected
in the future.
Honda and
General Electric Co (GE), the world’s largest jet engine manufacturer,
signed a basic agreement on February 16, 2004 to jointly pursue
commercialisation of Honda’s HF118 jet engine. The signing of a
final agreement with GE is planned before the end of the year.
Honda will
accelerate R&D efforts at the Wako Nishi R&D Centre, in anticipation
of mass production of the HF118 engine. The newly registered Honda
Aero Inc will take the lead in accelerating the development of business
activities.
About Honda
Aero Inc
| CEO: |
Junichi
Araki |
| Incorporation: |
July
1, 2004. |
| Location: |
TBD by
the end of 2004 - East Coast city in the United States |
| Investment
ratio: |
Honda
Motor Co, Ltd 100% |
| Employment: |
Approximately
10 associates |
| Business
Areas: |
Contract
negotiations, procurement, and production preparations for
aviation engine business. |
About Wako Nishi R&D Centre
| General Manager:
|
Kazunobu Sato |
| Establishment: |
July 1, 2004 |
| Location: |
1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-city,
Saitama-prefecture, Japan |
| |
(located at site
of current Wako Research Center) |
| R&D Areas: |
Design and development
of aviation engines |
Honda R&D
facilities in Japan
| Name |
Location |
Since |
R&D Areas |
| Wako
R&D Centre |
Wako,
Saitama |
1960 |
Automobile
R&D |
| Tochigi
R&D Centre |
Haga,
Tochigi |
1986 |
Automobile
R&D |
| Asaka
R&D Centre |
Asaka,
Saitama |
1973 |
Motorcycle
R&D |
| Asaka
Higashi R&D Centre |
Asaka,
Saitama |
1979 |
Power
products R&D |
| Wako
Research Centre |
Wako,
Saitama |
1991 |
Fundamental
research for future technologies |
| Wako
Nishi R&D Centre |
Wako,
Saitama |
2004 (new) |
Aviation
engine R&D |
| Tochigi
Proving Ground Operations Centre |
Haga,
Tochigi |
1979 |
Comprehensive
test course |
| Takasu
Proving Ground Operations Centre |
Kamikawa,
Hokkaido |
1996 |
Comprehensive
test course (cold climate) |
| Honda
Research Institute Japan |
Wako,
Saitama |
2002 |
Advanced
technologies |
| Honda
R&D Taiyo |
Beppu,
Oita |
1992 |
CAD design,
R&D for wheelchairs and rehabilitation training equipment |
|
CLASSIFIEDS
AUSTRALIA
