One of Japan's prominent industrial companies, Mitsubishi has again contributed a major development to its country's aviation. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries conducted the first flight test aircraft for the MRJ (Mitsubishi Regional Jet), their next-generation domestic jet.
According to The Guardian, the passenger jet is the first ever of its kind in Japan. The first test flight was a success and it ended a decade of developing a certain aviation program. This program was for the purpose of competing with Canadian and Brazilian competitors for smaller plane in the worldwide market.
The Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) embarked at Nagoya airport last Wednesday. The plane did not encounter problems in ascending, descending, and turning in airspace. It was flying off the Pacific coast for 1.5 hours.
The MRJ is powered by two engines, about 115 feet in length, and seats 80 passengers. Mitsubishi proudly announced that the plane is a fuel-efficient and advance aircraft. In addition, the aircraft passengers will experience comfort with lower costs.
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation president, Hiromichi Morimoto said, "The MRJ successfully took to the sky today thanks to ongoing cooperation and support from all members involved." He added, "We will make our utmost efforts towards type certificate acquisition, committing all our resources to develop and produce the finest regional jet aircraft to enter commercial service in 2017."
News reported by Aerotime said that the passenger jet will continue to undergo flight tests for the first delivery scheduled on the second quarter of 2017. In the second quarter of 2016 will be the flight test in the US from Grant County International Airport at Moses Lake in Washington.
Mitsubishi still plans to deliver the first aircraft to All Nippon Airways Co. in 2017. Nippon Airways has ordered 15 planes, and is trying to decide to order 10 more. There are also other customers like Trans States Holdings, Sky West Inc., Eastern Air Lines Group Inc., Air Mandalay Ltd. and Japan Airlines Co.; making a total order of 223 planes and probably adding 184 more.
This development is another proof that with the help of technology almost anything is possible.
