MRJ

Mitsubishi Aircraft is expecting to perform the first flight of its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) in October.

The company had previously planned to conduct the maiden test flight before the end of June.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Mitsubishi Aircraft said they will implement intensive flight test following the first flight with plans to commence MRJ deliveries during the second quarter of 2017.

The companies are currently conducting static strength testing, and manufacturing of the second and subsequent flight test aircraft.

The MRJ first flight has been postponed to incorporate verification results of various ground tests and related feedback into the first flight test aircraft, the companies said in a jointly released report.

Mitsubishi Aircraft president Hiromichi Morimoto was quoted by Reuters as saying: "We are still planning to deliver to ANA in the second quarter of 2017, so we don’t see the delayed test flight as having any serious impact."

"We are still planning to deliver to ANA in the second quarter of 2017, so we don’t see the delayed test flight as having any serious impact."

MHI and Mitsubishi Aircraft plan to conduct final assembly, outfitting and painting of the MRJ at a new facility being constructed in Aichi Prefecture adjacent to Nagoya Airport.

MHI’s Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works will produce wing components, which will undergo fabrication at the Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works’ Tobishima plant. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines will manage final assembly of the MRJ engines.

A production collaboration association will produce aircraft parts, while a cluster at the Matsusaka plant will manufacture parts for commercial aircraft.

A real-time network connecting all production facilities in Japan and worldwide suppliers will be established, to manage physical distribution of components.

The 70 to 90-seat next-generation regional jet is part of Mitsubishi Aircraft’s effort to supersede Canada’s Bombardier in the segment.

Mitsubishi Aircraft intends to sell more than 2,000 of MRJ, and has so far logged 223 firm orders from customers.

Image: Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) is a regional aircraft with a seating capacity for 70-90 passengers. Photo: courtesy of Mitsubishi Aircraft.