GKN Aerospace wins production contract to supply unique composite HondaJet fuselage

GKN Aerospace has gained a production contract with Honda Aircraft Company as supplier of the unique, composite, light-weight bonded fuselage for the HondaJet advanced light business jet. Manufacturing of the fuselage has commenced and is being conducted at the GKN Aerospace production facility in Alabama, USA.

Marcus Bryson, CEO of GKN Aerospace. "Our two years of development work with Honda Aircraft to create this innovative, composite fuselage has extended GKN's established relationship with Honda. We look forward to working closely with Honda Aircraft in the years ahead as the most advanced light jet yet created reaches its full potential."

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 has been 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.