Mitsubishi Aircraft has completed the wing-body join of it its second flight test aircraft, and says its regional jet programme is on track for a maiden flight in the second quarter of 2015.

A Nikkei report says the MRJ is likely to take its first flight in end May, and that the manufacturer has notified major suppliers of the schedule.

When contacted, Mitsubishi says it has niether set a date nor announced a date to its partners, and that the schedule is still for the first flight happen between April and June next year.

Mitsubishi rolled out its first flight test aircraft in October.

The Japanese airframer is now conducting functional and performance tests on the aircraft’s various systems. Other tests it will have to accomplish before first flight include testing of the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney PW1200G engines, its Hamilton Sundstrand auxiliary power unit, ground vibration tests, electro-magnetic interference tests, security and taxi checks.

Final assembly of the second flight test aircraft has largely been completed, except for the mounting of the engines, says a Mitsubishi spokeswoman.

She adds that the fuselage of the third flight test aircraft has also been fused, with the wing-body join to be “completed soon”.

Source: Cirium Dashboard

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