Honda Aircraft's twin HA420 jet out-sold both Cessna and Embraer in the entry-level jet market in the first quarter of 2017.
The delivery figures released last week from the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) show that Honda shipped 15 HA420s compared to 10 Cessna Mustang/M2s and 11 Phenom 100/300s.
It was the best shipment month for the company since the HA420 was certified, with the next best being the eight aircraft shipped in the fourth quarter of last year. There are now nearly 50 of the type in service.
In other shipments, Cessna's C172SP topped the small singles chart with 20 shipments, a markedly better result than the nine delivered for Q1 2016, and Piper recorded a healthy result for the Piper Archer II, sending 11 airframes out to customers.
Cirrus' SR22 range is still unconquered in the large single segment with 49 aircraft shipped, but Cessna must be disappointed in the TTx result; their challenger recording only one aircraft dispatched for the whole three-month period. The Beech Bonanza also lost ground with only three aeroplanes shipped; the worst quarterly result for the 70-year-old since Q4 2012, when only two went out.
Overall, the market remained flat. Although GAMA recorded a total of 434 general aviation aeroplanes delivered for the first quarter against 422 for the same period last year, the value billed was $US 3.55 billion, well down on the nearly $4 billion for Q1 2016.
Major Aircraft Shipments
| Aircraft | Q1 2017 | Q1 2016 | Change |
| Piper Warrior III | 0 | 5 | -100% |
| Cessna C172SP | 20 | 9 | 122% |
| Piper Archer III | 11 | 3 | 267% |
| Diamond DA40 | 7 | 13 | -46% |
| Cirrus SR20 | 8 | 10 | -20% |
| Tecnam P2010 | 9 | 7 | 29% |
| Cessna C182T | 7 | 6 | 17% |
| Beech G36 Bonanza | 3 | 6 | -50% |
| Cirrus SR22/T | 49 | 47 | 4% |
| Cessna TTx | 1 | 7 | -86% |
| Piper M350/Matrix | 2 | 4 | -50% |
| Mooney Ovation/Acclaim | 2 | 2 | 0% |
| Beech G58 Baron | 5 | 5 | 0% |
| Piper Seminole | 4 | 1 | 300% |
| Piper Seneca V | 0 | 0 | - |
| Diamond DA42 | 4 | 7 | -43% |
| Tecnam P2006T | 8 | 8 | 0% |
| Diamond DA62 | 6 | 3 | 100% |
| Cessna Caravan Series | 8 | 12 | -33% |
| Quest Kodiak 100 | 9 | 5 | 80% |
| Pilatus PC12 | 12 | 16 | -25% |
| Daher TBM 900/910/930 | 7 | 5 | 40% |
| PAC 750XL | 1 | 1 | 0% |
| Piper Meridian/M500/M600 | 4 | 2 | 100% |
| Cessna Mustang & M2 | 10 | 5 | 100% |
| Eclipse 550 | 3 | 3 | 0% |
| Embraer Phenom 100 & 300 | 11 | 12 | -8% |
| Honda HA420 | 15 | 3 | 400% |
| Cessna T206H | 13 | 5 | 160% |
| GippsAero Airvan 8 | 4 | 2 | 100% |