JonathanJet

Jonathan Schaff, of Bozeman, Montana, and his 2016 HondaJet

“Never would I have imagined that I would be flying a jet myself — single pilot — around the world, essentially. I’ve taken my HondaJet across the Atlantic, all the way around Europe, down to Tunisia and North Africa, and back. I am based in Bozeman, Montana, and flew from Iceland to Bozeman, Montana, in one day. It was nine and a half hours’ worth of flight time, and I was exhausted after it, but it was very impressive for going against the wind!” noted Jonathan Schaff, the world’s youngest HondaJet owner and operator.

This is the fourth aircraft that the blockchain security and vacation rental entrepreneur has owned. But before ascending to cabin-class aircraft 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 amazing 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 became 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 because, for a light jet, that’s really impressive,” Schaff marveled.

“I usually fly 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 experience, 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 carefully considered against the benefits of other jets and turboprops when looking for his first jet.

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 [Citation] Mustang or the Phenom 100. Just even compare the baggage capacity 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 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; everyone would have their bags in their laps. Every time I fly with people, I’m impressed 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 claims. “The fact that it is unique was intriguing to me as well. I definitely get people saying things like, ‘Is that a HondaJet,’ or ‘What is that?’ When going to other countries, some people have thought it’s a custom-built or a homebuilt aircraft.”

Schaff notes that the industry’s only HondaJet ownership group has recently focused on attracting new parties to the group, whether with or without model-specific experience. This association has positively influenced drawing in and retaining new HondaJet operators.

“I’m on the HondaJet Owners and Pilots Association (HJOPA) board, which we are currently revamping. HondaJet owners are unique and niche, so our pilots’ association is a great group of people. We will have events every year, and we expect them to be lots of fun. Right now, our forum has a great ‘Ask an Owner’ section and a ‘New Pilot’ thread, and we will be making it even better soon,” he foreshadowed.

“If you want to get into a HondaJet, turbine experience is the biggest obstacle or advantage. I had a lot of experience, and it was an effortless transition into the plane. If you don’t, it might be worth going up before you get your type rating and getting really experienced with the plane by flying in the right seat or another avenue. After you understand the plane, it’s too easy to fly. It’s a lot like flying my JetProp.”

He followed with some additional advice for those considering moving into the model from others.

“[Pay special attention to] crosswind landings. Really get proficient at that. Tailwheel training helps you with that since it lands similarly to one. Once you understand the G3000, the thing basically flies itself.”

Schaff reported that his initial type rating training in a simulator was a good first step towards understanding some of the aircraft’s nuances. He now has more than six hundred hours in type.

“As far as limits, there is the crosswind limitation. But after a while in the airplane, I’m not afraid of the landings. You get used to it, and once you are, you don’t notice the difference from other planes. The aircraft performs well as long as you have the experience.”

You can follow Jonathan’s flying adventures on Instagram at @jvation.