Aircraft Overviews

The HondaJet is a twin-engine business jet produced by Greensboro, North Carolina-based Honda Aircraft Co. An experimental HondaJet first flew on Dec. 3, 2003, with the HA-420 type receiving FAA approval on Dec. 8, 2015, and the first delivery taking place on Dec. 23, 2015. Improved versions of the HondaJet were introduced in 2018 (HondaJet Elite), 2021 (HondaJet Elite S) and 2022 (HondaJet Elite II), all of which are commercial designations for the HA-420 type. A larger HondaJet that is “capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the United States” was announced on Oct. 12, 2021, an airframe that was designated at the time as the HondaJet 2600 Concept. Subsequently given the HondaJet Echelon name in October 2023, it is expected that this HondaJet—which the company has said will be “offered alongside the HondaJet Elite II”—will make its first flight in 2026.

The Bell 429 is a twin-engine helicopter produced by Fort Worth, Texas-based Bell Textron, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. Although Bell Textron is headquartered in Texas, the Bell 429 is produced at Bell Textron Canada Ltd.’s facility in Mirabel, Quebec, with that entity also being the holder of the Model 429’s type certificate. Announced at the 2005 Heli-Expo and marketed at the time as the GlobalRanger, the Model 429 was approved by Transport Canada on June 20, 2009, ahead of the first delivery to air medical helicopter operator Air Methods.

The TBM 960 is single-engine turboprop produced by French manufacturer Daher that is one of the commercial designations of the company’s TBM700 N type. Unveiled on April 5, 2022, at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, the TBM 960 replaced the TBM 940.

The H160 is a twin-engine medium helicopter produced by European manufacturer Airbus Helicopters. Following its March 2015 debut at that year’s Heli-Expo, the H160 made its first flight on June 13, 2015, a flight that was performed by an airframe registered as F-WWOG.

Gulfstream’s G550 is a twin-engine business jet that is one of the commercial designations for the Savannah, Georgia-based manufacturer’s GV-SP type.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s G400, G500 and G600 are twin-engine business jets produced by the Savannah, Georgia-based manufacturer which are commercial designations of the company’s GVII type.

The Kodiak 100 and Kodiak 900 are single-engine turboprop airplanes produced by Daher. Originally developed as a short takeoff and landing (STOL) airframe that had the ability to provide humanitarian aid to remote locations, the Kodiak 100 was formerly produced by Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft Co., which was acquired by Daher in 2019.

Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft King Air 360 and 360ER are twin-engine turboprops that are commercial designations for the company’s Model B300, while the King Air 360C and 360CER are commercial designations of the Model B300C that is equipped with a cargo door.