On April 12, 2018, a official appearance event for one of the most advanced Business and General Aviation aircraft – HondaJet HA-420 was held at Okęcie airport. The organization of the promotional campaign for this new product at the Okęcie airport with the participation of the Institute of Aviation and GE Aviation results from the fact that the GE Honda HF120 turbojet engine for this modern unit was largely designed at the Engineering Design Center, a joint venture of General Electric Aviation and Institute of Aviation in Warsaw.
The HondaJet aircraft delivered to Poland was one of the most-bought lightjet aircraft in 2017. Now it will be used for the first time to provide commercial air services. So far, HondaJet has broken 13 speed records.
Thanks to the advanced technology created within the GE Honda Aero Engines, the engine located in the HA-420 enables flying at a maximum cruising altitude of 13.136 m and faster (maximum speed is 781 km/h) than competitive aircraft. This affects the reduction of time and the reduction of flight costs. The advanced tolerance control process and modern production quality control system of this engine also allowed to obtain low noise levels in the cabin and the highest flight comfort in this class of aircraft.
“We are proud that Polish engineers from EDC have contributed to the creation of a turbojet engine for one of the most modern units in the private aircraft category. They are specialists of the highest class, appreciated all over the world, which is also confirmed by this international cooperation between Polish, American and Japanese engineers”- said Marian Lubieniecki, President of the Board and Managing Director of General Electric Company Polska.
The HF 120 engine for HondaJet is not the only fruitful project run by the Engineering Design Center. The Polish engineers working at EDC conduct comprehensive projects related to the most modern equipment for various industries, including aviation and energy. Key achievements include the latest aircraft engines, efficient turbines and installations for extracting oil and gas from the seabed. It is worth noting that projects are being carried out in Warsaw since the conceptual phase and Polish engineers manage many works.
EDC also develops the technological potential of Polish engineering in close cooperation with technical universities (strategic partnership with the Warsaw University of Technology, cooperation with the Wrocław University of Technology and co-creation of the university’s course with the Gdańsk University of Technology). Technical experts from EDC are also leaders and consultants on GE contracts in the country and throughout Europe, where they have the opportunity to use Polish suppliers of components and services, promoting Polish technologies abroad.
The talent and potential of Polish engineers from EDC has been recognized and appreciated by GE. For the first time in history, the company decided to leave intellectual property in Poland regarding components and engine modules designed in EDC, thus ensuring direct supervision over works under local competences. This confirms the recognition of Polish engineers and the primary importance of EDC in the global industrial and intellectual network of GE.
