Japan's First Regional Jet MRJ to Fly late October

For the first time in a decade after the World War II, Japan built a turboprop airliner and flew it on August 30, 1962. YS-11 as it was called met the need for a short-haul airliner to replace Douglas DC-3s flying Japan's domestic routes. The entire nation backed up the project and a cheer-up drama was televised aptly titled "Dear Duck, Fly!".

Now, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation announced August 31 the first test-flight of MRJ (Mitubishi Regional Jet) late October this year. The aircraft will test take-ff/landing at Nagoya Airport and fly over the area for an hour or so.

MRJ is the first home-built airliner since the legendary turboprop YS-11 half a century ago. Mitsubishi plans to deliver the first MRJ to ANA Holdings in April-June, 2017. Now that the schedule for the test-flight is set, Mitsubishi will finalize production details in time for delivery.

The test-flight of MRJ was first set in late May but postponed for partial redesigning of the body.

In the 100-seater division of small-size aircraft is currently monopolized by Canada's Bombardier and Brazil's Embraer. Mitsubishi foresees a total demand of 5,000 in 20 years and tries to claim 50% share. MRJ beats others in fuel consumption by 20% but competition is stiff all the same.

Six versions of MRJ are planned using two different fuselage lengths of engine thrusts of 69.3 kN (15,600 lbf) × 2 and 78.2 kN (17,600 lbf) × 2, respectively.

Current orders for MRJ stand 47 at home (ANA/JAL), 170 from US (Trans States Holdings/SkyWest/Eastern Air Lines) and 6 from Air Mandalay.

Japan has long subcontracted western manufacturers in aircraft industry, and MRJ promises to be a new strong pillar for Japan's leap forward in manufacturing industry. Japan is currently one tenth of the United States in terms of the volume of aircraft production.