MRJ progresses towards first flight next week

Mitsubishi Aircraft says it has simulated various scenarios on its engineering flight simulator in preparation for the MRJ regional jet’s maiden sortie, and that results thus far have proved promising.

In an interview with Flightglobal, Mitsubishi’s vice-president and general manager of sales and marketing Yugo Fukuhara, says the manufacturer has simulated “normal and abnormal scenarios” from take-off to landing, and that the tests have not identified any issues.

Fukuhara adds that the first flight test aircraft (FTA 1) is now undergoing the final stage of high-speed taxi tests, upon receiving approval from Japan’s transport ministry last week to take its first flight.

The Japanese regional jet is scheduled to take its first flight in the week of 9 November, after several pushbacks to its schedule, with the latest revolving around issues with the aircraft’s rudder pedals.

Mitsubishi found that when the pilot exerts maximum pressure on the rudder pedals under “extreme condition”, there was “interference to the linkage mechanism of the rudder pedal”, says Fukuhara. Mitsubishi has since replaced the part.

Fukuhara says FTA 1 is scheduled to be ferried to the US for flight tests in mid-2016, and that the function of the prototype will be to test the aircraft’s envelope expansion system.

He also reiterated that despite the various schedule changes, Mitsubishi is confident of meeting its first delivery target.

“We have no concerns about delivering the aircraft in 2Q 2017."

Mitsubishi has received firm orders for 223 MRJs, as well as options and purchase rights for a further 184 aircraft.