Japan’s first domestically-built airliner in 50 years, and Launch was started by Taiko traditional drummers to pound away in a cavernous hanger is one way to create a loud noise to showcase in Global aviation industry. But Mitsubishi Aircraft, an aerospace firm, it already had the world’s attention long before it unveiled the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ),

Japan is made to set its mark in the skies with its first new commercial jet in more than 50 years, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, or MRJ. Since Japan’s last commercial passenger plane was flying routes across the nation, the country has upgraded the world in high-speed rail and established a significant aerospace industry in Japan — but it’s taken a back seat when it comes to original aircraft development. That’s set to change with the narrow-bodied MRJ.

It was rolled out and made its press meet appearance at Saturday’s launch event, complete with a stirring taiko drum performance at the Komaki Minami plant in Nagoya, where one of Mitsubishi’s most famous aircraft was developed: the A6M “Zero” World War II fighter plane.

The last commercial Japanese plane to operate was Mitsubishi’s YS-11, a turboprop aircraft built between 1962 and 1972. It had been hoped the YS-11 would revive the Japanese aviation industry, but only 180 were sold, 99 of them in Japan.

The project to develop the MRJ began in 2008. Speaking at the event, Hideake Omiya, chairman of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said numerous problems and impediments had to be overcome during the plane’s development. “We had to be prepared to bear the risk that could jeopardize our company’s foundation. Going forward this jet will fly to every corner of the world. This is the moment of dreams come true.”

Composites are used in the construction of the MRJ, which will be powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1200G engines. The jet will be available in two iterations, the 70-seat MRJ70 and 90-seat MRJ90. It has a pointed nose that wouldn’t be out of place on a bullet train. ANA is the launch customer for the four-seats-abreast plane, with 15 firm orders. At the rollout event on Saturday,

Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA, has mentioned the company is “determined to help ensure the MRJ becomes an aircraft loved and appreciated by our passengers.” Five MRJs will begin test flights in the second quarter of 2015, with commercial operations set to launch in 2017. Going up against Embraer and Bombardier in the narrow-bodied-jet sector, Mitsubishi says six airlines have more than 400 MRJ planes on order or with options to purchase: ANA, JAL, Air Mandalay, Sky West, Trans States, and a relaunched Eastern Air Lines.

Japan Airlines Limited said it has reached a basic agreement with Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation to purchase new 32 Mitsubishi Regional Jets (MRJ) as the next-generation regional jets for our fleet (for JAL Group). We plan to deploy them on domestic routes from 2021, operated by J-AIR of JAL Group. JAL president said “I visited the factory where it is currently being developed. On seeing the new Japanese passenger aircraft with my own eyes, my heart beated fast and I was confident that it would be the perfect next-generation regional jet for our company.

This will be the first time for JAL Group to own a Japanese passenger aircraft since the times the former JAS Group operated the YS-11. In addition to deploying the MRJ, we will provide overall support using our know-how as an airline operating regional jet, and thus contribute to the birth of a Japanese passenger jet which we can boast about to the world.

MRJ president said As you may know, the MRJ is a regional jet developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation as the first Japanese passenger aircraft. Delivery of the first MRJ is scheduled in 2017. The MRJ is installed with new engines, which is going to be offer high economic performance and greater fuel savings than aircraft of the same dimensions. We will use the MRJ as the flag fleet for JAL Group’s regional network route operations.

The first test flight is planned next spring, and development is going smoothly for the delivery of the first MRJ in 2017. I believe that we can take our first delivery of the MRJ in best conditions in 2021.JAL group was announced
Mitsubishi has already received 230 orders for the new aircraft. Mitsubishi has long built parts for Boeing and assembled American military aircraft under contract. But some analysts have questioned Mitsubishi Aircraft’s ability to design and build a whole plane by itself. Much has been made of the fact that it once made the legendary Zero wartime fighter, but that was over seven decades ago. Japan was banned from having anything to do with aviation after the second world war and took until 1962 to develop the NAMC YS-11 regional airliner, a project that eventually failed due to spiralling costs.

That is possible. Unlike the messy consortium of independent-minded firms that built the last attempt, a single company is responsible for the MRJ project. And a great deal of national prestige has been invested in it. The government has contributed several billion yen toward the plane’s research and development, Toyota is a partner and All Nippon Airlines was first to order. The hopes and prayers of a lot of companies are invested in the project. That makes failure difficult to contemplate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJdkbXbbgH4

Report courtesy : Mitsubishi press , Economist , CNN

Picture courtesy : app Gatty images , Japan.