GE Honda HF120 Turbofan, Certified in 2013, Powers HondaJet With 2,095 lbf of Thrust
Why It MattersA 50/50 GE-Honda engine venture supplying a single light-jet airframe shows how tightly engine and airframe development are coupled in the very light jet segment, and how fleet hours build maturity.
The GE Honda HF120 is a turbofan engine in the 2,000-pound thrust class that powers the HondaJet family of light business jets. It received FAA type certification in 2013 and produces 2,095 lbf of static thrust at sea level. GE Honda Aero Engines is a 50/50 joint venture formed by GE Aviation and Honda in 2004. The HF120 grew out of Honda's earlier HF118 research engine and became the venture's first commercial product, targeting very light jets and light business jets. The program launched around 2006, with intensive testing from 2009 onward. Its primary application is the Honda HA-420 HondaJet, a 4–6 passenger aircraft.
The engine uses a compact two-spool design with an axial-centrifugal compressor combination and a single-stage high-pressure turbine. Listed specifications include a thrust-to-weight ratio of about 4.5, an overall pressure ratio of 24:1, a bypass ratio of 2.9, a dry weight of about 466 lbs and a 5,000-hour target time between overhauls. Other features include a wide-chord swept titanium blisk fan, composite fan guide vanes, a dual-channel FADEC control system and an effusion-cooled combustor with airblast fuel nozzles. The engine supports a climb rate of over 4,000 feet per minute.
The HF120 is stated to reduce fuel burn by 15–20% compared with older engines in its class, and the HondaJet achieves up to 20% less fuel consumption than competitors. The combustor design is described as lowering NOx, CO and HC emissions. The engine is stated to meet noise levels below Stage 4 requirements and to have demonstrated compatibility with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Fleet milestones include more than 500 engines produced, over 250 HondaJets delivered, and the engine fleet surpassing 240,000 flight hours.
