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Japan's first passenger jet takes off in maiden test flight

The plane marks a new chapter for Japan's aviation sector, which last built a commercial airliner in 1962

Afp November 11, 2015

ground staff prepare to see off japan 039 s first domestically produced passenger jet the mitsubishi regional jet mrj prior to its maiden test flight at nagoya airport aichi prefecture on november 11 2015 japan 039 s first domestic passenger jet successfully took off on its maiden test flight november 11 culminating a decade of development for a programme aimed at competing with brazilian and canadian rivals in the global market for smaller aircraft photo afp

Ground staff prepare to see off Japan's first domestically produced passenger jet, the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), prior to its maiden test flight at Nagoya airport, Aichi prefecture on November 11, 2015. Japan's first domestic passenger jet successfully took off on its maiden test flight November 11, culminating a decade of development for a programme aimed at competing with Brazilian and Canadian rivals in the global market for smaller aircraft. PHOTO: AFP

NAGOYA: Japan's first domestic passenger jet successfully took off on its maiden test flight Wednesday, culminating a decade of development for a programme aimed at competing with Brazilian and Canadian rivals in the global market for smaller aircraft.

The Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, lifted off from the runway at Nagoya airport.

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The approximately 35-metre long two-engine aircraft flew smoothly upward into clear skies in central Japan, said AFP journalists at the scene.

The plane marks a new chapter for Japan's aviation sector, which last built a commercial airliner in 1962, the YS-11 turboprop that was discontinued about a decade later.

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The MRJ will seat about 80 passengers and is seen competing with other regional passenger jet manufacturers such as Brazil's Embraer and Canada's Bombardier.

Firms in Japan were banned from developing aircraft by US occupiers following its defeat in World War II.

Mitsubishi Heavy, a military contractor, built Japan's legendary "Zero" World War II fighter jet.

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The developer boasts that the MRJ, a fuel-efficient, next-generation aircraft, will offer more passenger comfort with lower operating costs, eyeing the booming regional jet sector.

COMMENTS (4)

Vectra | 9 years ago | Reply "your fighter jet which is a joke" We will see which one is a joke once Tejas officially enters service next year,Jf 17 or Tejas.

Paki | 9 years ago | Reply @Amused "If it goes anything like the Tejas.." Isn't that what the problem is? i.e. it doesn't go anywhere :)

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Amused | 9 years ago | Reply @Vectra Okay, nobody asked, but thank you. If it goes anything like the Tejas development cycle (your fighter jet which is a joke), good luck my friend. Peace from across the border :)

Vectra | 9 years ago | Reply Very soon India will also join this big passenger jet club may be in a decade or little more.India is building its own 70-90 seater HAL/NAL Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) similar to this 80 seater Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ). HAL/NAL RTA was designed and will give stiff competition to Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), Embraer 190 E2, and Bombardier CS100. Earlier it was proposed to be a turbprop jet but in 2010 GOI asked NAL to use the Turbofan engine instead of turboprop and in 2013 India gives green light to build its own 70-90 seat airliner.it may take 10-15 years to build. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/india-gives-green-light-to-70-90-seat-airliner-388112/

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