Brazil Certifies HondaJet Elite II; Over-Wing Engines Beat Rear-Mount Rivals

Honda Aircraft delivered the first HondaJet Elite II to Brazil this week after the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) granted official type validation for the aircraft’s decade in development. The delivery, handled by Lider Aviação, coincided with LABACE 2026 at São Paulo’s Campo de Marte Airport, and the aircraft carried serial number msn 42000276 with Brazilian registration PS-MTO. It arrived in Sorocaba on July 29 following a July 22 ferry from Greensboro, North Carolina with stops including Fort Lauderdale and Bridgetown. The key technical differentiator is over-wing engine mounting at about 75% of wing chord, aimed at reducing shockwave-related wave drag at Mach 0.75 and enabling a larger, quieter, more fuel-efficient VLJ cabin.