GKN wins contract for HondaJet composite fuselage

GKN Aerospace (Isle of Wight, U.K.) reported on Nov. 11 that it has won a production contract with Honda Aircraft Co. (Greensboro, N.C., USA) as supplier of the 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 Tallassee, Ala., USA.

Marcus Bryson, CEO of GKN Aerospace, says, "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 Co., is constructed of composites co-cured integrally in an autoclave. This process reduces manufacturing complexity while 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 facility. The HondaJet aircraft, which is currently in development and certification testing, will be manufactured at Honda Aircraft’s world headquarters location in Greensboro.