Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is set to begin final assembly of the first customer aircraft for the MRJ regional jet programme, with various sections of the fuselage having been delivered to the MRJ final assembly hangar.
In a newsletter, Mitsubishi Aircraft says it will work through the final assembly process, with an eye on delivery to launch customer All Nippon Airways in mid-2018.
Mitsubishi Aircraft
The Japanese airframer also gave an update of MRJ flight tests, which are ongoing using two test aircraft. It says valid results have been obtained from FTA-2, which started flying on 31 May, including the confirmation of emergency response measures such as flying with one engine, activation of emergency power units and stall tests.
Various tests are also being carried out as the programme prepares for a ferry flight to Moses Lake in Washington State this summer.
These include the expansion of its flight envelop to its design specifications of a maximum speed of Mach 0.78 and a maximum altitude of 39,000ft, conducting instrument flights, as well as checking on the terrain awareness and warning system and the collision avoidance system.
Its Moses Lake Flight Test Centre meanwhile has been conducting flights using a small aircraft, rehearsing for the test missions ahead.
Mitsubishi adds that preparation is underway for FTA-3 and FTA-4 to take their first flights this summer.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
