HondaJet Elite II and Echelon Explained: The Light Jet With Engines on Top of the Wing (2026)

The HondaJet is one of the most recognisable business jets: its two engines sit on pylons above the wings, not on the back of the fuselage. Built by Honda Aircraft Company, part of the Japanese car maker, it is a small, fast and efficient light jet. In this guide we explain the HondaJet Elite II in service today and the larger HondaJet Echelon in development, with the same facts for each: range, speed, cabin, engines, cockpit and what they are best for.

Quick answer: the HondaJet Elite II flies 1,547 nm at up to 422 KTAS with Garmin Autoland, and costs about US$6.95 million (2022). The HondaJet Echelon, in development, will seat up to 11 and fly 2,625 nm at 450 KTAS, with certification expected in 2028 or 2029.

HondaJet Models at a Glance

Sources: Honda Aircraft pages for the Elite II and Echelon; engines, seats, dates and prices from Wikipedia: Honda HA-420 HondaJet.

Honda Aircraft Company in Brief

Honda says it founded Honda Aircraft Company in 2006 as the latest venture in its drive to expand mobility. The HondaJet project is much older: Wikipedia says the HondaJet first flew on 3 December 2003, received its FAA type certificate in December 2015 and was first delivered on 23 December 2015 at Greensboro, North Carolina. It was then certified in Europe (May 2016) and Japan (December 2018), and 271 had been built by late 2025.

Sources: Honda Aircraft: About us; Wikipedia: Honda HA-420 HondaJet.

Why the Engines Are on Top of the Wing

The HondaJet’s signature is its over-the-wing engine mount. Wikipedia says the engines sit on pylons above the wing at 75% of the wing chord, which reduces drag compared with mounting them on the rear fuselage, as on most light jets. Honda also shaped the nose and wing for natural laminar flow, keeping the air smooth over more of the surface to cut drag further.

1. HondaJet Elite II: The Light Jet in Service

The HondaJet Elite II is the current production HondaJet. Wikipedia says it was announced on 17 October 2022 at US$6.95 million and certified by the FAA on 2 November 2022, with about 200 lb more take-off weight than the Elite S and a longer range. Honda lists 1,547 nm of range with four occupants and a maximum cruise of 422 KTAS at 30,000 ft.

HondaJet Elite II specifications

Sources: Honda Aircraft: HondaJet Elite II; seats, engines, dimensions (original HondaJet) and price from Wikipedia.

Cabin and cockpit

Honda lists a cabin with two-tone leather executive seats in a club layout that swivel, a speakerless audio system, extra sound insulation and a fully enclosed lavatory with ceiling skylights that can be serviced from outside. In the cockpit, the Elite II adds Garmin Autoland, which can take control and land the jet by itself in an emergency, and an autothrottle.

In December 2025 Honda introduced the APMG S upgrade for older HondaJets, which Wikipedia says adds about 300 lb of take-off weight. Best for: owner-pilots and small teams on trips of up to about 3.5 hours who want the most efficient light jet.

2. HondaJet Echelon: The Bigger HondaJet (in Development)

The HondaJet Echelon is a much bigger HondaJet, built to fly nonstop across the US. Honda lists up to 11 occupants, 2,625 nm of range, a 450 KTAS cruise, a 47,000 ft ceiling, 120 cu ft of baggage and a cabin altitude of 6,363 ft, which it calls class-leading. Wikipedia says it was unveiled as a concept on 12 October 2021, approved for production in June 2023 and had 350 letters of intent by October 2023, with first flight planned for late 2026 and certification expected in 2028 or 2029. Honda has announced that the first aircraft’s wing assembly is complete.

HondaJet Echelon specifications (targets)

Sources: Honda Aircraft: HondaJet Echelon; engines, weight, dates and price from Wikipedia.

Honda says the Echelon will have an autothrottle, Emergency Autoland, autobrakes, an Advanced Steering Augmentation System and a runway overrun alert, with executive, dual-club and divan cabin layouts. Best for: buyers who want a light jet that can cross the US nonstop, once it is certified.

Elite II or Echelon: Which Is Right for You?

HondaJet vs Its Rivals

The Elite II competes with very light jets such as the Embraer Phenom 100EX and Cessna Citation M2 Gen3, and the Echelon will compete with light jets such as the Phenom 300EV and Citation CJ4 Gen3. See our guides to Embraer business jets and Cessna Citation jets.

Pros and Cons of the HondaJet

Pros

• Unique over-the-wing engines that cut drag
• Fast for its size: 422 KTAS
• Garmin Autoland on the Elite II
• The Echelon will cross the US nonstop

Cons

• The Elite II’s 1,547 nm range limits longer trips
• Small cabin: up to 6 passengers
• The Echelon will not be certified before 2028 or 2029

Key Takeaways

• Honda Aircraft builds the HondaJet Elite II and is developing the larger HondaJet Echelon.
• The HondaJet’s engines sit above the wing, which reduces drag.
• The Elite II flies 1,547 nm at 422 KTAS with Garmin Autoland; it launched at US$6.95 million.
• The Echelon targets 2,625 nm and up to 11 occupants, with certification expected in 2028 or 2029.

Frequently Asked Questions

Featured image: FlyingFuel graphic using a photo of a HondaJet taxiing at Hamburg Airport by MarcelX42, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.