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Jonathan Schaff’s HondaJet in formation with an MU-2
His sleek, red and white-accented jet has far exceeded his expectations of jet ownership.
“It flies higher than most weather and has a heated wing. Getting ABOVE the weather is great. So, if the airlines go, I can go. There is no comparison when you compare it against the [Ci- tation] Mustang or the Phenom 100. Just even compare the baggage ca- pacity to other aircraft. The cabin is also very nice. Although I try not to use the bathroom, it is definitely a plus,” he advised.
Schaff explained, “I have seven seats in my plane (the Elite has eight), and I have taken seven people with bags
rental entrepreneur has owned. But before ascending to cabin-class air- craft ownership and purchasing this 2016 model in August 2021, Schaff owned a share of a Mooney M20F and a Beechcraft Bonanza.
“I would be flying at night, around the mountains, and a single-engine piston at night around the mountains didn’t seem to cut it. After six months in the Bonanza, which is a great plane, I got a Piper JetProp. And that’s when I got de-icing and a turbine; it was pressurized, and that was an amaz- ing aircraft. I sold it when I got the HondaJet, but then I repurchased the same exact plane because I missed it so much”, said Schaff.
Purchasing a HondaJet was the most recent evolution for Schaff’s aviation journey, who learned to fly at twenty-five years old. It wasn’t until then, after leaving a job and having time to dedicate to flying, that he be- came a pilot. But he had wanted to fly ever since he was a kid.
“I had the opportunity to get into the HondaJet and got an older one, a 2016 model. It’s serial fifteen, which I believe was the third one off the line. Honestly, I’m impressed every time I fly it. And it continues to impress me with the load, the amount of baggage it can hold, the ease of flying, and the aircraft’s power. I’m mostly [operating at airports above sea level], so when I fly at sea level - I’m like, wow! For example, I was in Curacao a few days ago, flying at night with almost a full useful load, and rotated before the displaced threshold. I was laughing
Schaff notes that he is impressed by the HondaJet’s passenger and baggage-carrying capabilities. Jonathan (on the air stair) is pictured with friends and his HondaJet.
because, for a light jet, that’s really impressive,” Schaff marveled.
“I usually f ly the HondaJet at [FL]400 or 410, but if I really have to stretch a leg — I will fly at 430. At 410, I typically see 407 knots true, maybe 410, and if I go to [FL]430, I will get 422. And at that altitude, I usually burn 320 to 330 pounds per hour per side. I’m learning to use the long-range fuel burn at lower altitudes to get even more efficient. In my ex- perience, the advertised numbers are what you get,” he reported.
These mentioned aspects are not the only positive thing Schaff has to say about the aircraft, which he care- fully considered against the benefits of other jets and turboprops when look- ing for his first jet.
from Coachella. So that trip was with their big bags, including outfits, which all fit into the baggage compartment. It was a shorter flight from Palm Springs, but the plane did well. You can’t do that in a Mustang or a Phenom 100; every- one would have their bags in their laps. Every time I fly with people, I’m im- pressed by the HondaJet. It feels like a bigger airplane than it is. But when I fly it alone, [it feels so big that] I feel like I should be flying my JetProp.”
All-weather capabilities, a well- appointed interior, and a large-sized baggage compartment set the aircraft apart from others, Schaff contends. But a signature aspect about the sleek light jet stood out to him.
“The HondaJet is a really cool plane with a great ramp presence,” Schaff
May 2023 / TWIN & TURBINE • 23
PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM CURTET