The past few years have not been easy for Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, the company’s product marketing director Noriyoshi Saito indicated yesterday here at the Farnborough International Airshow. The Japanese manufacturer is nevertheless proudly displaying a cabin mockup of its long delayed Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).
“Working inside the company, we know the announced schedule, and every day we saw the gap [between the schedule and progress] getting bigger and bigger, and of course, that’s frustrating,” said Saito. “One day we said the aircraft is going to be ready in 2012 and we start talking about delivering the aircraft in that time frame, and the next day we have to say different things.”
In fact the company announced three major program delays during development, but with last month’s delivery and installation of the first Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PWG1200G engines on the first test MRJ (the aircraft is launch platform for P&W’s new Geared Turbofans) the finish line appears in sight.
“We can say with confidence, currently the development is progressing very well, and at this point we actually have an aircraft that’s in the airplane shape, so that’s a lot different from the previous three delay announcements,” Saito said. First flight is scheduled for next year, with deliveries to launch customer All Nippon Airways set for 2017.
Other program changes that may have raised eyebrows among observers appear in a different light when viewed from Mitsubishi’s perspective. The aircraft was initially planned to be largely composite, built around a composite wing box, a logical plan as the company builds the composite wing boxes for Boeing’s 777 Dreamliner. But careful analysis revealed the weight savings on the much smaller wingbox for an RJ yielded little weight benefit, while making construction “more complicated and more expensive” than the conventional aluminum box the company settled on, Saito said. Additionally, the company realized many regional jet operators aren’t equipped to maintain and repair composite airframes, as a major carrier would be. Indeed, while there is much new about the MRJ, Mitsubishi has strived to keep it old school in many ways.
“Basically it’s very conventional and easy to use,” Saito said. “Any flight attendant can transfer to this aircraft with no problem. Regional carriers are not really looking for any fancy things. They’re really cost conscious.”
Mitsubishi says the MRJ will provide lower costs and increased passenger satisfaction. Four variants, based on two fuselage lengths, are planned. Although the model features the tallest and widest cabin in its class, the cabin cross-section is smaller than the Embraer regional jet, as cargo is carried in a rear compartment, rather than under the cabin floor. The overhead bins (said to be the largest in category) will speed boarding, and an onboard wheelchair will make the lavatory wheelchair accessible. Airshow attendees can get an eye-popping preview with the mockup Mitsubishi has on display here (Outdoor Exhibit E7).
“Since we don’t have an actual airplane, this is one of the approaches to convince people how you feel when you become a passenger of this aircraft,” Saito said. “I want more people to come and see and touch and feel it. That’s what the mockup is for.”
