INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – HondaJet designer, Michimasa Fujino, was presented the 2012 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aircraft Design Award, September 18, 2012, at the 12th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration and Operations (ATIO) Conference and the 14th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference, Indianapolis, Ind.
Fujino is president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company, Greensboro, N.C., which designed and developed the HondaJet, an advanced light jet aircraft.
The AIAA Aircraft Design Award is considered the most prestigious recognition for aircraft designers in the world.
Fujino was recognized for pioneering the unique optimum “Over-The-Wing Engine Mount” configuration that reduces wave drag and increases drag divergence Mach number. This unique Over-The-Wing Engine Mount configuration significantly increases cruise efficiency and, at the same time, maximizes cabin space without increasing the size of the aircraft.
The Over-The-Wing Engine Mount design and airframe design reduces cabin noise and ground-detected noise when overhead.
The HondaJet is powered by two highly fuel-efficient GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines, and is equipped with the most advanced glass flight deck available in any light business jet, a Honda-customized Garmin® G3000 next-generation all-glass avionics system with a class-leading layout of three 14-inch landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers (www.hondaaircraft.com).
Past recipients of the award include Joseph Sutter for the Boeing 747, Harry Hillaker for the F-16, Burt Rutan for the Voyager, and Leland Nicolai for AGM-129/ACM (Advanced Cruise Missle).
