GKN helps HondaJet get off the ground
The lightweight bonded fuselage is manufactured at GKN’s facility in Alabama, USA and assembled at its facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA.
The HondaJet fuselage, designed by the Honda Aircraft Company, is constructed of composites co-cured integrally in an autoclave. This innovative manufacturing process reduces manufacturing complexity whilst the composite structure produces a lighter fuselage that offers greater fuel efficiency and significantly increased interior cabin space.
GKN Aerospace gained the HondaJet fuselage development contract in 2009. Initial development and certification of component fabrication, fuselage assembly and production work was completed by teams at GKN Aerospace’s Tallassee, Alabama facility. The HondaJet aircraft, which is currently in development and certification testing, will be manufactured at Honda Aircraft’s world headquarters location in Greensboro, North Carolina.
