Mitsubishi Aircraft has rolled out its first flight test aircraft for the MRJ regional jet programme and will be conducting a series of tests on the aircraft, leading up to its first flight.
Its chief engineer Nobuo Kishi says various functional and performance tests have to be conducted on the various systems that have been installed on the regional jet.
These include testing of the aircraft’s avionics, hydraulics, air-conditioning, lighting and landing gear systems. It will also test the aircraft’s ability to maneuver on the ground.
The Japanese airframer will also be activating the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney PW1200G engines and its Hamilton Sundstrand auxiliary power unit. Thereafter, ground vibration tests, electro-magnetic interference tests, security and taxi checks will also be carried out.
Its static strength test aircraft will also be subject to 100% load tests.
“After passing all these tests, we move to the flight tests scheduled for 2015,” says Kishi.
Mitsubishi’s president Teruaki Kawai tells Flightglobal the challenge lies in successfully integrating the various systems on the regional jet. He also disclosed that Mitsubishi turned the power on for its first regional jet in late September.
The MRJ is scheduled to make its maiden flight between April and June 2015. Mitsubishi is building a total of five flight and two ground test aircraft for the programme.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
