Inside Honda's striking $5 million business jet

Parked in a far corner of Le Bourget Airport was one of the more interesting aircraft at the Paris Air Show. Priced at a cool $4.85 million (about £3.8 million or AU$6.4 million), the HondaJet promises a smooth ride in the sky for about what you'd pay for a house in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The HondaJet first flew in 2003. The first delivery landed with customers last year.

A signature feature of the HondaJet is the two engines that are mounted above the wings. Honda says the placement reduces aerodynamic drag, improving fuel efficiency and making for a quieter ride.

The engines look just as distinctive from the back. The two baggage compartments (one aft, as seen here, and another in the nose) have a total of 66 cubic feet of space.

The engines, winglets and T-shaped tail give the HondaJet a distinctive appearance. 

The air conditioning unit attached via the orange hose was working hard to combat a scorching day in Paris.

The long, pointed nose is another of the HondaJet's signature features. The airplane almost looks like a bird of prey from this angle.

Access to the cabin is through a door that swings down. Steps in the door give you a boost.

The cockpit is far from cluttered, with LCD screens taking up much of the space. Pilots maneuver the HondaJet with control columns.

The cabin can fit five passengers. Two seats face forward and two other seats face the rear. The seats are adjustable, and you can fit a writing table between them. A fifth seat faces the door.

In the back, there's even a toilet and a washbasin behind a sliding door.

This is definitely one airplane on which I'd like to hitch a ride.