The first prototype of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) completed its maiden flight, from Nagoya airport in Japan today. The aircra...
The aircraft flew for 1.5 hours, performing basic maneuvers to confirm basic characteristics and functionality including ascent, descent and turning in airspace off the Pacific coast. The Flight Test Aircraft 1 (FTA1) took of at 9:35 am local time, in clear weather and landed back at 11:02 am.
Mitsubishi said the aircraft handled far better than expected and had an excellent landing, despite slight windy conditions.
The landing gear, flaps were in fixed position and the thrust reverser were not engaged.
The aircraft flown was the largest, 90 seat MRJ90 variant in the MRJ single aisle family, which also include a 70 seat MRJ70.
The MRJ marks the first new generation airliner built in Japan, after the NAMC YS-11 turboprop airliner built in the 1960s.
The MRJ family is powered by the Pratt & Whintey PW1200G geared turbofan engines rated at 78.2 kN each, offering 20 percent less fuel burn and reduced noise and environmental footprint.
Weighting around 40 tonne, the regional aircraft can cruise at a maximum speed of Mach 0.78.
Both MRJ variants has Standard (STD), Long Range (LR) and Extended Range (ER) models. MRJ90STD has a range of 2120 km and the MRJ90ER has 3770 km.
The maiden flight will initiate a 2500 intensive flight test campaign, which has to be completed in less than 2 years. Aircraft certification and maiden delivery is scheduled for second quarter of 2017.
In addition to flight tests in Japan, MRJ flight testing will also be conducted at the Grant County International Airport at Moses Lake, Washington in the United States.
Mitsubishi has opened and started full operations of Seattle Engineering Center (SEC) in Seattle, Washington to accelerate the development of the MRJ.
SEC will work with AeroTEC, which has extensive experience and expertise in flight testing, and provide support for flight tests in the U.S. that are scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2016.
Mitsubishi has received firm orders for 223 MRJs, with options for another 184.
