Piper & Honda to make jet planes
Piper Aircraft and Honda unveil sport utility jet.
Today Piper Aircraft Inc. unveiled its first jet. Its a svelte, single-engine six-seater jet plane. The company calls it "sport utility jet." Piper has been the business of plane making for the last 70 years. The PiperJet would be made available for the rich and famous at $2.2 million. The company executives are expecting deliveries to begin during the first half of 2010.
At the National Business Aviation Association's 59th Annual Convention in Orlando, President and CEO of Piper Aircraft Inc. James Bass said, that a long cherished dream has been realized. The company plans to target operator-owners who would use the jet plane for business and pleasure. Piper Aircraft Inc. realizes that it has a huge market potential. The jet plane fits the bill to the industry's growing "very light jet" segment. This segment has been popular with the owner-operators and air taxi companies such as Delray Beach-based DayJet Corp. This would be the first tie PiperJet have ventured into making a jet plane, even though they have developed 180 aircraft models over the last 70 years.
It is still not clear how many people will be added by Piper to make the jets. They also have an option of manufacturing the jets at its Vero Beach headquarters. The company cleared the air that it will mainly depend on the kind of incentives local communities might offer. Currently there are about 1,050 people employed in Vero Beach by Piper, which is owned by American Capital Strategies Ltd. an investment firm based in Bethesda, Md.
Piper Aircraft Piper studied the market before jumping in. They surveyed over thousand customers, trade associations, dealers and others. The study reveled that a small but luxurious single-engine jet that would appeal to owner-operators. Piper also looking forward to join forces with Honda Motor Co. Ltd., which announced in July it will debut its first jet in three to four years. Piper and Honda would create an alliance between the two of the biggest names in transportation manufacturing. Both the companies will work together on service and sales of their respective jets. Strategic planning is already in place for Piper. Piper would have five regions across U.S that would provide the framework for the partnership. Piper clarified that they will locate with Honda in facilities in order to sell the PiperJet and HondaJet together. Though, the company clarified that the other options are still open and they are multiple possibilities and Honda is one of the options they are looking into. One thing Piper is sure, that the production line would be up and running by 2009.
As for the competition for grabbing customers, Piper said that their jets are smaller in size and less expensive as compared to Honda. So they cater to different segment and customers. Honda on the other hand said it would reveal its jet prices at aviation group's conference. The very light jets, also know as micro-jets segment is increasingly growing crowded, with Piper and Honda being the latest entrants.
About the jet, it would come ready with rich leather seats, deep zebra wood details and rich fabrics and trim to perfectly placed storage, cup holders and docking stations for personal electronics. The PiperJet has taken equal care of the pilot and passenger comfort and needs, reduced workload and ease of operation. The jet plane would also include an enclosed lavatory. Without the lavatory, the aircraft will seat seven. The PiperJet is going heavy on luxury and is very upscale jet. The PiperJet will have only one engine and will travel at speeds comparable to some double-engine light jets. The top speed of the PiperJet is 414 mph, and it will be able to travel 1,300 miles without refueling. It would achieve a maximum elevation of 35,000 feet. Piper calls it a revolutionary new aircraft that will offer customers a class-setting combination of performance, style, utility, capability and pricing. Piper also has in place the next-generation technologies like Navigation, situational awareness and system information. PiperJet's focus is on optimal operational excellence, user-friendliness, and safety. The company is leaving no stone unturned, as they hold talk with the world's leading avionics manufacturers to identify and integrate what will be the most advanced, cutting-edge integrated avionics available when the PiperJet delivers in 2010. Piper is also going to have a high-speed, natural laminar flow (NLF) wing that enhances fuel economy and performance and advanced metal bonding for improved strength and manufacturing integrity.
The PiperJet would be certified in the Normal Category under FAA Part 23 and applicable foreign certification standards. The PiperJet is designed to be flown by a single pilot and will be RVSM Certified. Its innovative design accommodates ample baggage and class-setting useful load. With the finest team of engineers and designers Piper wants to make sure that the PiperJet is second to none. It also assured customers that every measure has been taken to make sure that the PiperJet answers customer’s needs and what they want in a jet.
Industry watchers reveal that other single-engine jets have not been very successful in the market and that some people prefer the safety and the redundancy of twin engines. But being in the industry for 70 years is something Piper would be banking on. Rightly so, without even seeing a model or specifications, some customers have gone ahead and put down $10,000 deposits. It is a known fact that aircraft market tends to be kind of conservative and there's a lot of brand loyalty.
The double-engine HondaJet will sell for $3.7 million and up, while the smaller, single-engine PiperJet starts at $2.2 million. By the end of 2010 these jets would hit the market.
|
