The Mitsubishi Regional Jet just took its maiden voyage and this is the first time a domestic-made aircraft was created, since the YS-11 turboprop.
As reported by Columbia Basin Herald, a collection of Port of Moses Lake employees watched a live stream of the test flight of Mitsubishi's first jet, wherein the Moses Lake is set to be the testing location.
According to the report, four 90-seater Mitsubishi Regional Jets or MRJ-90 are expected to arrive in Moses Lake in the second quarter of 2016 for testing, as early as March or April. Moreover, it is noted that the agreement potentially could turn into several more years of flight testing for the three models of the aircraft.
Mitsubishi said that the piloted MRJ-90 took off from Nagoya Airport in Japan, for one-and-a-half hour flight last Nov. 11.
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation President Hiromichi Morimoto said that, "The MRJ successfully took to the sky today thanks to ongoing cooperation and support from all members involved," he also 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."
In a similar report by Chicago Tribune, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet is a small plane built for short-distance flights linking the cities. However, the main selling point of the Japanese-made aircraft is its lightweight body and a new-type engine that has excellent fuel efficiency.
With these features, the plane is about 20 percent more fuel-efficient than similar models made by its competitors. In connection to that, the global market for small passenger planes is expected to rise rapidly. It is projected that in the next 20 years, the demand is expected to top 5,000 jets, especially in emerging countries such as nations in South East Asia.
Currently, Bombardier Inc. of Canada and Embraer SA of Brazil dominate the market for regional jets. However, analysts view Mitsubishi can break market and compete.
Japanese Cabinet Secretary Yoshide Suga even said that, "We very much welcome the success of the first flight as it is a new beginning for the Japanese aircraft industry."
According to NYSE Post, the last Japan home grown passenger plane was the YS-11, which was launched in 1962 by Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corp. that sold 182 planes before halting production in 1974. The company then disbanded in 1983, with a crippling debt amounting to 36 billion yen or $293 million.
As noted, the Mitsubishi Regional jet has an estimated cost of 180 billion yen or almost $147 million. Deliveries of the aircraft is expected to start in June 2017.
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