OREANDA-NEWS. Further expanding company founder Soichiro Honda's dream of providing new and exciting ways to enhance mobility, Honda Aero, Inc. (HAI) celebrates the first production launch of its new HF120 turbofan engine completed at its new, state-of-the-art production facility in Burlington, North Carolina.

The HF120 engine is the result of a joint venture established in 2004 between Honda and GE combining the R&D, engine production, and jet aviation expertise of the two companies. Early production of engines, prior to the startup of the new Honda Aero production facility, has been conducted by GE Aviation at its Lynn, Massachusetts facility. The new HAI production facility is anticipated to takeover all HF120 engine production by the end of the year.

"Casting our eyes to the sky, today we celebrate the realization of our dream, to provide flight powered by the passion of Honda associates," said Masahiko Izumi, president of Honda Aero, Inc. "We are now at the starting point, and we are committed to supplying jet engines of the highest quality and to delivering world-class support to our customers."

"With this new engine manufacturing facility, Honda will now be building both jets and jet engines in North Carolina," said North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory. "I look forward to a day in the very near future when North Carolina-made HondaJets and GE Honda jet engines will be in the hands of customers around the world."

The Honda Aero, Inc. facility is currently prepared to produce the HF120 engine for customers, but will also use its resources to provide maintenance and overhaul service at its Burlington facility. The facility, which is the official Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility for the HF120 engines, features a state-of-the-art test cell, repair and overhaul, as well as parts warehousing.

"We worked very closely with engineering and our supply base to develop, manufacture and assemble parts that will meet the very strict FAA requirements," said Tony Brandewie, vice president of Honda Aero. "Our 120 percent quality policy will be applied to everything we do here, as we remain dedicated to building customer confidence in our products and services. This is another proud moment to say 'I work for Honda.'"