It was just over half a century ago that Honda Motor Co.'s founder, Soichiro Honda, made public his aspiration to eventually enter the aviation business. That dream is about to take off.

The HondaJet, a light aircraft developed by the carmaker's aviation unit, made its public debut at a U.S. air show Monday, entering the final stage before delivery to customers begins next year.

The business jet, with a distinctive design in which the engines are mounted on the wings to minimize air resistance, made a demonstration flight at the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.