Mitsubishi SpaceJet
SpaceJet | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Maiden flight of the MRJ90 | |
Role | Regional jet |
National origin | Japan |
Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
Designer | Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation |
First flight | 11 November 2015 |
Status | Development paused[1] |
Number built | 7 MRJ90 test aircraft 1 MRJ70 test aircraft[2] |
The Mitsubishi SpaceJet (Japanese: 三菱スペースジェット) is a regional jet developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MAC), a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) subsidiary. MHI first announced the concept in June 2007, then targeting certification for 2012, as the first Japanese airliner since the 1962 NAMC YS-11. After a delayed development, the maiden flight of the MRJ90 took place on 11 November 2015. In June 2019, Mitsubishi rebranded the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ, Japanese: 三菱リージョナルジェット) program as the SpaceJet. As flight testing was longer than expected, service entry was pushed back until development was paused amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation.
The airframe is made mainly in aluminium with a carbon fibre composites empennage. The low-wing twinjet is powered by underwing Pratt & Whitney PW1000Gs, and was the first program to select the geared turbofan. The M90 (the MRJ90 renamed) should seat 86 to 96, while the smaller MRJ70 was to accommodate 70 to 80 passengers. The MRJ70 was replaced by the SpaceJet M100, stretched by 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) to better meet US scope clauses at 76 seats with premium seating. It is comparable with the Embraer E-Jet E2.
Development[]
Launch[]
In 2003 the Japanese government started a five-year, ¥50 billion ($420 million) research program to study an indigenous regional jet for 30 to 90 passengers, led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).[3] In 2004 MHI was focused on a 2m high by 2.8m-wide, four-seat-abreast cabin, seating 30 to 50 passengers, and was hoping to fly a prototype in 2007 and deliver the first aircraft in 2010.[4] In 2005 it switched to a larger 70-90 seat category.[5]
MHI launched its concept at the 47th Paris Air Show in June 2007, showing a full-scale cabin mock-up and aiming to be the first regional jet all-composite airframe, with certification targeted for 2012.[6] Mitsubishi formally offered the MRJ to airlines in October 2007 - the first Japanese airliner since the NAMC YS-11 production stopped in 1974 - after being the first airframer to select the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan offering a 12% reduction in thrust specific fuel consumption, rated at 15,000 lbf (67 kN) thrust on the 70- to 80-seat MRJ70 and 17,000 lb thrust (75.7 kN) on the 86- to 96-seat MRJ90, projecting a ¥150 billion ($1.275 billion) development cost.[7] The NAMC YS-11 of the 1960s was produced at a loss.[8]
MHI officially launched the Mitsubishi Regional Jet Program on March 28, 2008, with an order for 25 aircraft (15 firm, 10 optional) from All Nippon Airways, targeting a 2013 introduction.[9] Mitsubishi is targeting a 20% share of 5,000 sales forecast in the 70-90-seat bracket over 20 years. Flight testing was scheduled for late 2011 and the $1.9-billion program necessitates 300-400 sales to recoup its cost.[10] Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MAC) is a partnership between majority owner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and minority owner Toyota Motor Corporation[11] with design assistance from Subaru Corporation, itself already an aerospace manufacturer.
Design[]
In September 2009, Mitsubishi unveiled extensive design changes, using aluminium instead of carbon fibre composites for the aircraft's wings and wingbox; the remaining composite parts will make up 10-15% of the airframe: the empennage.[12] The cabin height is increased by 1.5 in (4 cm) to 80.5 in (204 cm) and the fuselage height is increased to 116.5 in (296 cm), giving a rounder cabin, wider and higher than its competition.[12] The program was delayed six months with final design frozen in mid-2010, first flight delayed to the second quarter of 2012 and deliveries to early 2014.[12][13] Maintenance intervals are 750 flight hours per A Check and 7,500 flight hours per C check.[14]
A 100-seat stretched MRJ100 was studied in March 2011.[15] As of June 2015 it was still under evaluation.[16]
As the MRJ90 MTOW of 39.6 t is above the US regional carriers scope clause of 39 t, SkyWest and Trans States Holdings could convert their MRJ90 orders for 100 and 50, respectively, to the 1.4 m shorter MRJ70: 67% of the 223 firm MRJ90 orders. But the MRJ70 seats only 69 in two classes and attain the 76 seats scope close limit only in all-economy: Mitsubishi wants to increase seating within its fuselage to compete with the currently compliant Embraer E-175 and Bombardier CRJ900.[17] Mitsubishi is working on a three-class, 76-seat design, with more premium seating than the MRJ70 but still within the scope-clause 86,000 lb (39 t) MTOW, to be unveiled at the June 2019 Paris Air Show.[18] The reworked MRJ70 will be called the Space Jet M100, its type certificate is expected in 2022 and Mitsubishi considers U.S. production.[19] Program cost is expected to reach ¥800 billion by the 2020 debut of the SpaceJet M90.[20]
Assembly[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/MRJ_Rollout_Ceremony.jpeg/220px-MRJ_Rollout_Ceremony.jpeg)
On 15 September 2010, the Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation announced that it had entered the production drawing phase and was proceeding with the manufacturing process.[21] Assembly of the first aircraft began in April 2011 with construction of the emergency escape for the cockpit.[22] In April 2012, first flight was delayed to 2013.[23] In December 2012, the MRJ90s delivery was scheduled for 2017.[24]
In early 2013, Pratt & Whitney delayed the PW1200G certification to the "latter half" of 2014, after the MRJ first flight scheduled for late 2013.[24] On 22 August 2013, Mitsubishi announced a third delay to the program, and that the first flight would take place in the second quarter of 2015 instead of end-2013, while the first delivery to launch customer ANA would take place in the second quarter of 2017 instead of 2015, due to parts delivery problems including Pratt & Whitney engines.[25] On 7 September 2013 were exhibited a prototype of the left wing and four aluminium sections : forward fuselage, front mid fuselage, aft mid fuselage and aft fuselage, to be assembled in October 2013.[26] Mitsubishi has hired foreign experts to help with relations with suppliers, ground tests, flight tests, and certification.[27]
Pictures of the first fully assembled MRJ90 were available on 26 June 2014.[28] An official rollout occurred on 18 October 2014.[29]
Testing[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/MRJ_First_Flight_%281%29.png/220px-MRJ_First_Flight_%281%29.png)
The maiden flight of the MRJ90 took place on 11 November 2015.[30][31] On 24 December, Mitsubishi announced a one-year delay for the first delivery of the MRJ, to mid-2018.[32] The delay was attributed to insufficient wing strength and the redesign of the landing gear for better safety.[33]
Much of the flight testing for the MRJ90 will take place in Moses Lake, Washington, at the Grant County International Airport, due to the crowded airspace in Japan causing scheduling difficulties.[34] Static strength tests were completed on November 1, 2016, and confirmed that the airframe could withstand 1.5 times the maximum load.[35]
In January 2017, a further two-year delay was announced, pushing the expected first delivery to mid 2020.[36] This resulted from moving the avionics bay and wiring looms and in March the flight certification program was extended from 2500 to 3000 flying hours.[37] Mitsubishi didn't confirm.[citation needed] Four of the five delays were caused, at least partly, by failures to document work for certification or similar failures. As a result, development cost ballooned to 350 billion yen (US$3.17 billion) and the project might never be able to fully recover its costs.[38] Mitsubishi originally planned to use five flight test aircraft and two ground test aircraft but one or two additional aircraft will also be needed following this introduction of a two-year delay to mid-2020.[39]
Seattle engineering consultants Aerotec L.L.C. saw problems for avionics and its wiring certification: damage could cause single point of failure, due to fire, water flooding from a ruptured waterline, or from part penetration of an engine explosion. This necessitated hardware changes in the bays, now frozen, but the electrical wiring interconnection system had to be reconfigured with hired specialist Latecoere. In June 2017, 940 hours of flight tests have been done and the four prototypes have an above 98% availability.[40] On 21 August, FTA-2 experienced a flameout 170 km (92 nmi) west of Portland International where it landed; partial damage was confirmed in the PW1200G and the test fleet was grounded until the cause is known.[41] Flight testing resumed on 6 September.[42]
By December 2017, the MRJ test campaign was half done with 1,500 flight hours and less than 1% cancelled due to technical issues. Their rate is accelerating with tests set up before the January 2017 avionics bay redesign: special runway tests, extreme environment and high altitude tests, to be completed in 2018. An additional flight test aircraft incorporating the redesign will join the campaign in the second half of 2018, focused on wiring tests like lightning and high-intensity radio-frequency.[43] Two additional aircraft (10007 and 10010), recently painted white and under structural assembly in December, will be completed and will join the flight test campaign towards the end of 2018.[44] At the end of the year, the mid-2020 deadline seemed difficult to achieve.[45]
In January 2018, the avionics bay rearrangement and rerouted wiring were almost complete to be adequate for extreme events such as bomb explosions or water ingress underfloor.[46] Upgrades and ground tests were performed on four flight test aircraft from February to March at Moses Lake, preceding flight testing for natural icing, avionics and autopilot, performance, stability and control.[47]
In April 2018, the test fleet had logged 1,900 flight hours.[48] The flight-test fleet attained 2,000 hours in May 2018, and as most of the flight envelope was explored, the next trimester shifted to runway performance: takeoff, landing and minimum control speeds.[49] The MRJ70 test aircraft (number 8 and 9) were in final assembly as of May for expected delivery by the end of 2021, one year after the MRJ90 introduction.[17] An MRJ in All Nippon Airways livery was exhibited at the July Farnborough Airshow, alongside appearances by the similar Embraer 190 E2 and larger Airbus A220.[50]
In October 2018, Bombardier sued Mitsubishi in Seattle, alleging that its ex-employees stole trade secrets to help for US certification.[51] By then, the four MRJ90 prototypes had clocked 2,400 hours, targeting certification in late 2019 or early 2020 and first delivery in mid-2020, while the smaller MRJ70 should be introduced in 2022.[52] After the MRJ program lost ¥47.2 billion for six months to 30 September 2018 on top of its ¥110 billion deficit, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries injected ¥220bn ($1.94 billion) in Mitsubishi Aircraft, raising its stake from 64% to 86.7% and capital from ¥100 billion to ¥270 billion.[53] Mitsubishi wants to dismiss the Bombardier allegations and should be heard in Seattle's US District Court on 11 January 2019.[54] By December 2018, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau delivered its type inspection authorisation, allowing to debut certification flight testing in early 2019 with the four MRJ90 in Moses Lake.[55]
In April 2019, a federal judge dismissed Bombardier's claims against Mitsubishi, a strong case but falling short as there was no proof that Mitsubishi knew about those secrets.[56] By then, the program had completed 2,600 flight hours and was undergoing crosswind and climate testing, while two more MRJ90s should join this summer.[57]
On 24 June 2019, Bombardier and Mitsubishi announced that Mitsubishi would purchase the CRJ Programme from Bombardier for US$550 million and assume US$200 million in liabilities. With the deal, Mitsubishi will acquire the maintenance, support, refurbishment, marketing, and sales activities for the CRJ Series aircraft, including the support network locations in Montréal, Québec, and Toronto, Ontario, its service centres located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and Tucson, Arizona, and the type certificates.[58]
SpaceJet rename[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Paris_Air_Show_2019%2C_Le_Bourget_%28SIAE1173%29.jpg/220px-Paris_Air_Show_2019%2C_Le_Bourget_%28SIAE1173%29.jpg)
In June 2019, Mitsubishi rebranded the MRJ program as the SpaceJet. The MRJ90 was renamed as the SpaceJet M90 and a 76-seat variant specially targeted to meet US scope clauses, to be known as the SpaceJet M100, was announced. This version will be 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) longer than the abandoned MRJ70 but 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) shorter than the M90.[59]
The E175-E2 is heavier than the current, scope-compliant E175, with its larger GTF engines, and being longer (by one frame) and wider (by 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)): when its cabin is full, it can only fill 4 t (8,800 lb) of fuel within the 86,000 lb (39 t) MTOW limit, limiting its range to a short 950 nmi (1,760 km). Compared to the E175-E2, the M100 cabin is a tighter fit around its 76 seats, and its wing is lighter, having 3.2 m (10 ft) less span and with smaller winglets than the MRJ90, giving it 50% more fuel than the E175-E2 at the MTOW limit for a 1,500 nmi (2,800 km) range with 76 passengers. Without the scope clause limit, a 42 t (93,000 lb) MTOW M100 could fly 1,910 nmi (3,540 km) with 84 passengers.[60] The M100 redesign pushes back its service entry to 2023, one year later than the MRJ70, while the M90 will evolve into the M200.[61]
The 2 ft (0.61 m) longer fuselage can seat 88 in single-class, and at 91 ft (28 m), the wingspan is 4 ft (1.2 m) shorter with the modified canted wingtip. The shorter span will allow operating at Colorado's Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, a popular tourist destination, the only in-production jet with the capability after the CRJ700 production ends. MITAC partner Triumph Group's structural optimization should remove 15% of the combined structural weight of the wing, aft fuselage, and empennage. Deliveries should begin in 2024.[62]
The M90 in its final configuration first flew on 18 March 2020, before joining the rest of the test fleet in Moses Lake.[63]
In May 2020, Mitsubishi halved the budget of the SpaceJet program for the year ending 31 March 2021. It confirmed its commitment to the baseline M90 version but is to reconsider the M100 in the light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry.[64] All work on the SpaceJet outside Japan, including flight testing of the M90 at Moses Lake, was repatriated to the company's headquarters in Nagoya.[65] In October 2020, Mitsubishi announced a further budget reduction and a "temporary pause" to most SpaceJet activities other than type certification documentation while it assesses a "possible program restart".[1][66] Mitsubishi Aircraft should slash 95% of its employees from April 2021, leaving 150 employees, while the SpaceJet program budget was cut by half by 2020, from Y370 billion for FY2018, and will be down to Y20 billion ($194 million) from fiscal year 2021.[67]
Production[]
A new production facility for the aircraft was built at Komaki Airport in Nagoya, Japan, on land purchased from the government at a total cost of 60 billion yen.[68] The 2015 roll-out of the MRJ took place at Komaki, which had previously been the development site of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter.[69]
Mitsubishi announced in June 2013 that it would establish a quality control facility in Illinois for the sourcing of MRJ components from the United States.[70][71]
MHI employs new production methods such as integral wing stringers, unusually tight tolerances, shot peening of curved surfaces, and vacuum assisted resin transfer molding, intended to increase quality and thus reduce expensive fault correction to keep price competitive.[72]
On 26 April 2017, the fifth MRJ was complete in ANA livery, lacking only engines and nose cone, aircraft number six and seven had their fuselage and wings joined without the tails, and the eighth, the first MRJ70, was at the assembly line start; Mitsubishi can manufacture 12 aircraft concurrently: in station one are joined fuselage sections, in station two the landing gear, wings and horizontal stabilisers are attached, in section three the major components are assembled, in outfitting takes place in section four and ground tests in station five, then the completed aircraft moves to painting.[39]
Specifications[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/MITSUBISHI_MRJ_FRONT_SIDE.png/220px-MITSUBISHI_MRJ_FRONT_SIDE.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/JA21MJ_%2830146614831%29.jpg/220px-JA21MJ_%2830146614831%29.jpg)
Variant | M90 | M100 | |
---|---|---|---|
Single class | 88Y @ 31" pitch | 84Y @ 31" pitch | |
Mixed class | 81 (9J@36" + 72Y@30")[74] | 76 (12J+12W+52Y)[60] | |
Cargo | 18.2 m³ / 644 ft³ | 13.6 m³ / 481 ft³ | |
Cabin | 2.02 m / 6 ft 8 in Height × 2.76 m / 9 ft 1 in Width | ||
Length | 35.8m / 117 ft 5 in[74] | 34.5 m / 113.2 ft | |
Wingspan | 29.2 m / 95 ft 10 in | 27.8 m / 91.3 ft | |
Tail height | 10.4 m / 34 ft 2 in | 10.3 m / 33.9 ft | |
MTOW | 42.8 t / 94,358 lb | 42.0 t / 92,594 lb[a] | |
OEW | 26,000 kg (57,320 lb)[75] | ||
Fuel Capacity | 12,100 L / 3,200 US gal / 21,344 lbs / 9,680 kg | ||
Engines (2x) | Pratt & Whitney PW1200G | ||
Fan diameter | 56 in (142 cm)[76] | ||
Engine thrust (2x) | 78.2 kN / 17,600 lbf | ||
Range[b] | 3,770 km / 2,040 nmi | 3,540 km / 1,910 nmi[a] | |
MMo | Mach 0.78 (447 kn; 829 km/h) | ||
Ceiling | 11,900 m / 39,000 ft | ||
Takeoff (MTOW, SL, ISA) | 1,740 m / 5,710 ft | 1,760 m / 5,770 ft[a] | |
Landing (MLW, Dry) | 1,480 m / 4,860 ft | 1,550 m / 5,090 ft |
- ^ Jump up to: a b c US scope clause limit: 39 t / 86,000 lb MTOW, 1,500 nmi (2,800 km) range with 76 pax, 1,550 m / 5,090 ft takeoff
- ^ 102 kg / 225 lb per pax, ISA, no wind, LRC, 100 nmi alternate
Customers[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/JA23MJ_at_Farnborough_2018_%282%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-JA23MJ_at_Farnborough_2018_%282%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
The MRJ's future was uncertain after six years of delays, with 70% of the backlog shared by two US regional carriers bound by scope clauses: the MRJ90 is too heavy and the smaller MRJ70 accommodates seven seats less than the 76 permitted.[77] Following five postponements, and having lost ten percent of the MRJ's order book following the acquisition of Eastern Air Lines by Swift Air (bought existing Eastern assets only), Mitsubishi Aircraft closed its books at the end of March 2018 with a negative net worth of $979 million.[50]
Orders[]
All Nippon Airways was the first customer, with an order for 15 MRJ 90s and an option for 10 more.[78]
At the July 2012 Farnborough Airshow, SkyWest agreed to buy 100 MRJ90s, to be delivered between 2017 and 2020. The deal is worth $4.2bn at list prices. During the 2013 Regional Airlines Association conference, held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Mitsubishi announced that ANI Group Holdings, which firmed a MoU for 5 MRJ aircraft in June 2011, cancelled the deal, without giving further details.[79]
By December 2018, the MRJ90 had 213 firm orders plus 194 commitments.[55] During 2019, some of these orders were subsequently cancelled or converted to the new M100 variant, which had 115 commitments from US operators as of 31 October 2019.[80]
Order date | Airline / Purchaser | Entry into service | Type | Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M100 | M90 | Options | ||||
27 March 2008 | ![]() |
NET 2021[clarification needed][81] | — | 15 | 10 | to be operated by ANA Wings |
11 July 2012 | ![]() |
NET 2021[clarification needed] | — | 100 | 100 | |
28 January 2015 | ![]() |
NET 2021[clarification needed] | — | 32 | — | |
11 July 2016 | ![]() |
NET 2021[clarification needed] | — | 10 | 10 | |
5 September 2019 | ![]() |
2024[88] | 50 | — | 50 | |
Total[inconsistent] | 50 | 157 | 170 |
Cancelled orders[]
Order date | Airline / Purchaser | Type | Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MRJ70 | MRJ90 | Options | |||
16 June 2011 | ![]() |
5 | — | MoU cancelled in 2013[79] | |
2014 | ![]() |
— | 20 | 20 | Airline ceased operation 2017 and order terminated in Jan. 2018[90] |
14 July 2014 | ![]() |
— | 6 | 4 | Ceased operation in 2018[92] |
2 October 2009 | ![]() |
— | 50 | 50 | Cancelled in October 2019 as the M90 does not comply with U.S. scope clauses[94] |
16 February 2016 | ![]() |
— | 10 | 10 | Contract ended on 8 January 2021[95] |
On 20 July 2016, one of the officials at Iran's ministry of transportation announced Iran is buying 25 ATR airplanes for Iran Aseman Airlines and for further purchases Mitsubishi has shown interest in offering 20 MRJ planes.[96] On 21 May 2017, Iran cancelled its plans to buy Mitsubishi's Regional Jet (MRJ) from the Japanese company. Inability to set a delivery timeline for ordered aircraft and lack of testing were cited as their main reasons.[97]
On 31 October 2019, Trans State Holdings, Inc. cancelled its order for 100 MRJ90s (50 firm, 50 optional) because the aircraft does not comply with US airlines' scope clauses. [98]
Potential orders[]
In March 2008, and again in October 2008, Sankei Shimbun and Fuji Sankei Business I reported that the government of Japan would buy ten MRJs to serve as short-haul and small-field VIP transports, supplementing the existing Japanese Air Force One Boeing 747 aircraft.[99][unreliable source?][better source needed][100][unreliable source?][better source needed] The government was still considering this option as of July 2013, with MRJs possibly supplementing new Boeing 777 long-haul VIP transports, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.[101][better source needed]
On 19 June 2019, Mitsubishi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an unnamed American customer for 15 of the new 76-seat SpaceJet M100 variant, to be delivered from 2024.[102]
On 5 September 2019, US regional carrier Mesa Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding for up to 100 SpaceJet M100s, 50 of which are targeted as firm orders and 50 as purchase rights. Deliveries would begin in 2024.[103]
See also[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/MITSUBISHI_MRJ_AND_EMBRAER_ERJ-170STD.png/220px-MITSUBISHI_MRJ_AND_EMBRAER_ERJ-170STD.png)
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Airbus A220
- Antonov An-148
- Bombardier CRJ700 series
- Comac ARJ21
- Embraer E-Jets/E-Jets E2
- Sukhoi Superjet 100
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Chua, Alfred (30 October 2020). "Mitsubishi imposes 'temporary pause' on SpaceJet; certification work continues". Flight Global.
- ^ "PICTURES: Mitsubishi offers glimpse of MRJ production". 26 April 2017.
- ^ "MHI to lead on Japan's regional jet". Flight International. 29 April 2003.
- ^ "Japan Aerospace 2004 - Mitsubishi shows regional jet model". Flight International. 12 October 2004.
- ^ "MHI moves to larger jet". Flight International. 19 April 2005.
- ^ "Mitsubishi launches regional jet concept". Flight International. 18 June 2007.
- ^ "Mitsubishi formally offers new MRJ regional jet to airlines". Flight International. 15 October 2007.
- ^ Anselmo, Joe (24 October 2014). "Milestone for the Mitsubishi MRJ". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "MHI Officially Launches Mitsubishi Regional Jet Program" (Press release). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. March 28, 2008.
- ^ Mecham, Michael; Anselmo, Joe (17 March 2008). "Mitsubishi Leads Japanese Aircraft Resurgence" (PDF). Aviation Week & Space Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Toyota to sink $67.2 mln in Mitsubishi passenger jet". China Economic Net. Xinhua News Agency. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Siva Govindasamy (9 September 2009). "Mitsubishi unveils major changes to MRJ programme". Hong Kong: Flightglobal.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Aircraft Announces Final MRJ Configuration" (Press release). Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 9 September 2009.
- ^ Bernie Baldwin (Sep 7, 2018). "Profitability Is Aim Of Crossover Jets' Better Maintainability". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Govindasamy, Siva (9 March 2011). "Mitsubishi MRJ 100-seater to wait". Singapore: Flightglobal. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ Flottau, Jens (17 June 2015). "Mitsubishi Evaluates Further MRJ Stretch". Aviation Week. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Stephen Trimble (22 May 2018). "Analysis: MRJ attempts rebound with new schedule and strategy". Flightglobal.
- ^ Bryan Corliss (May 10, 2019). "Mitsubishi sets stage for announcement at Paris". Leeham News.
- ^ Naoki Watanabe (May 29, 2019). "Mitsubishi to turn MRJ into cheaper, smaller 'Space Jet'". The Nikkei.
- ^ Obe, Mitsuru; Watanabe, Naoki (21 June 2019). "Mitsubishi hopes global ambitions will fly with revamped jet". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Aircraft Proceeds With MRJ Manufacturing Phase" (Press release). Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
- ^ Cohen, Aubrey (5 April 2011). "Mitsubishi Regional Jet starts assembly". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Regional Jet Schedule Update" (Press release). Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 25 April 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Stephen Trimble (10 Jan 2013). "Pratt & Whitney delays MRJ engine certification to 2014". Flightglobal.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Aircraft delays regional jet delivery to 2017". Reuters. 22 August 2013.
- ^ Mavis Toh (11 Sep 2013). "Mitsubishi unveils MRJ fuselage". Flightglobal.
- ^ "Certification Delegation Causes Latest MRJ Delay". Aviation Week Network. 30 Aug 2013.
- ^ Toh, Mavis (26 June 2014). "Mitsubishi mounts engines on first MRJ flight test aircraft". Singapore: Flightglobal. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ "MHI and Mitsubishi Aircraft Host MRJ Rollout Ceremony" (Press release). Nagoya: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ Harding, Robin (11 November 2015). "Test flight triumph for Mitsubishi regional jet". Financial Times. Tokyo: The Nikkei. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "MRJ Completes First Flight" (Press release). Nagoya: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ González, Ángel (24 December 2015). "MRJ airliner delay won't disrupt jobs here, says local partner". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ^ "Delivery delayed further by weak wing". Nikkei Asian Review. Tokyo: The Nikkei. 25 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ Catchpole, Dan (September 29, 2016). "New Mitsubishi regional jet being tested in Moses Lake". The Everett Herald. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "MRJ Newsletter" (PDF) (Press release). Mitsubishi. November 2016.
- ^ "Mitsubishi delays MRJ deliveries by two years". Flight Global. 23 January 2017.
- ^ Greg Waldron (31 March 2017). "Mitsubishi takes "close look" at MRJ testing campaign". FlightGlobal.
- ^ Tim Kelly and Maki Shiraki (18 Apr 2017). "Japan jet may not make money, but aims to revive dormant industry". Reuters.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Mavis Toh (26 Apr 2017). "PICTURES: Mitsubishi offers glimpse of MRJ production". Flight Global.
- ^ Bjorn Fehrm (June 28, 2017). "MRJ entering more stable phase". Leeham.
- ^ Mavis Toh (24 Aug 2017). "MRJ test fleet grounded after PW1200G flameout". Flightglobal.
- ^ Mavis Toh (7 Sep 2017). "MRJ resumes flight tests with FTA-4". Flightglobal.
- ^ Mavis Toh (6 Dec 2017). "MRJ at midpoint of flight test campaign". Flightglobal.
- ^ Mavis Toh (22 Dec 2017). "Two more jets to join MRJ flight test campaign". Flightglobal.
- ^ Alex Derber (Jan 4, 2018). "Challenges Mount For MRJ". Aviation Week Intelligence Network. Japan's first foray into commercial aviation in decades has endured a string of setbacks.
- ^ Bradley Perrett (Jan 15, 2018). "MRJ Program Nears Completion Of Redesign". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Mavis Toh (19 March 2018). "MRJ flight test jets on ground for upgrades". Flightglobal.
- ^ Greg Waldron (19 April 2018). "MRJ eyes Farnborough flying display appearance". FlightGlobal.
- ^ Guy Norris (May 22, 2018). "MRJ70 Gets Green Light As MRJ90 Testing Tracks To Revised Plan". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hoshi, Masamichi (2018-07-17). "Mitsubishi jet makes airshow debut ahead of dogfight with giants". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ Rami Grunbaum (October 19, 2018). "Bombardier sues Mitsubishi in Seattle over aircraft trade secrets". The Seattle Times.
- ^ Gregory Polek (October 25, 2018). "Mitsubishi MRJ Plows Ahead Amid Legal Distractions". AIN online.
- ^ Greg Waldron (31 Oct 2018). "MHI throws Y220bn lifeline to Mitsubishi Aircraft". Flightglobal.
- ^ Ellis Taylor (21 Dec 2018). "Mitsubishi Aircraft seeks to have Bombardier lawsuit dismissed". Flightglobal.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Ellis Taylor (21 Dec 2018). "MRJ set to start type certification testing in 2019". Flightglobal.
- ^ Jon Hemmerdinger (22 Apr 2019). "Judge tosses Bombardier's suit against Mitsubishi America". Flightglobal.
- ^ Bryan Corliss (April 24, 2019). "Mitsubishi adding two MRJ90s to flight test fleet". Leeham News.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Acquire Canadair Regional Jet Program from Bombardier Inc". Bombardier. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Hemmerdinger, Jon (13 June 2019). "Mitsubishi rebrands MRJ as SpaceJet and plans new 76-seat variant". Flightglobal.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bjorn Fehrm (June 13, 2019). "How Mitsubishi Aircraft morphed the MRJ70 into the M100 SpaceJet". Leeham News.
- ^ "Evolving the MRJ into the SpaceJet". Leeham News. June 13, 2019.
- ^ Sean Broderick (Jul 11, 2019). "Mitsubishi Sees Path For M100 Success". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- ^ Alfred Chua (18 March 2020). "Latest SpaceJet M90 test aircraft embarks on first flight". Flightglobal.
- ^ Chua, Alfred (12 May 2020). "Mitsubishi to halve SpaceJet budget, review M100 development". Flight Global.
- ^ Hemmerdinger, Jon (23 May 2020). "Mitsubishi Aircraft to close all non-Japan locations, shelve M100 development". Flight Global.
- ^ Seiji Izumisawa, President and CEO (October 30, 2020). "2021 Medium-Term Business Plan" (PDF). Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. p. 13.
- ^ Alfred Chua (17 December 2020). "Mitsubishi Aircraft reportedly cuts 95% of staff". Flightglobal.
- ^ "三菱重工、MRJ新工場に600億円 月産10機目標". The Nikkei. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Japan set to launch a new commercial passenger jet". CNN Travel. 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
- ^ "MRJ、米に品質管理拠点 15年納入へ開発急ぐ". The Nikkei. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Aircraft Sets Up Quality Assurance Department in Illinois to Strengthen Interaction with MRJ Program Partners". www.defense-aerospace.com. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
- ^ Bradley Perrett (Oct 27, 2014). "MRJ Test Program Laid Out As Prototype Revealed". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014.
- ^ "SpaceJet Borchure" (PDF). Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "MRJ Brochure" (PDF). Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 2016.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Regional Jet, MRJ, compared with second generation regional jets". Leeham News. 4 Aug 2015.
- ^ "Powering the Mitsubishi Regional Jet—PurePower PW1200G Engine" (PDF). Pratt & Whitney. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Opinion: Can MRJ70 win regional battle?". Flightglobal. 29 May 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "ANA Selects Mitsubishi Regional Jet—firm order for 15 aircraft with 10 options" (Press release). Tokyo: ANA. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Russell, Edward (7 May 2013). "Mitsubishi and ANI cancel MOU for MRJs". Montreal: Flightglobal.
- ^ Chua, Alfred (31 October 2019). "Trans States cancels SpaceJet orders". Flightglobal.com.
- ^ Goold, Ian (15 February 2016). "Mitsubishi Details Delays to MRJ". AINonline. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- ^ Catts, Tim; Tomesco, Frederic (12 July 2012). "Mitsubishi Wins SkyWest Jet Sale in Blow to Bombardier". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ Toh, Mavis (13 December 2012). "SkyWest firms deal for 100 MRJ90s". Singapore: Flightglobal. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ Chong, Aaron (28 January 2015). "JAL firms up order for 32 MRJ aircraft". Singapore: Flightglobal. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ Matsuda, Kiyotaka (28 August 2014). "JAL Said to Plan Order for 32 Mitsubishi Regional Jets". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ^ "Rockton signs LOI with Mitsubishi Aircraft for purchase of up to 20 MRJ—First European company and second lessor in MRJ program to select the MRJ" (Press release). Farnborough, Hampshire: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Hemmerdinger, Jon (2019-09-05). "Mesa Airlines agrees to buy up to 100 SpaceJet M100s". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
- ^ Team, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation News. "Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Announces an MOU with Mesa Airlines for 100 SpaceJet M100 Aircraft". www.mitsubishiaircraft.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ Polek, Gregory (19 June 2011). "Mitsubishi Lands Third Customer for MRJ". Paris: AINonline. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ Mavis Toh (26 Jan 2018). "Eastern Air Lines cancels order for 20 MRJs". Flightglobal.
- ^ "Air Mandalay Signs Definitive Agreement for Purchase of up to Ten MRJ Aircraft—MRJ value recognized in growing Asian market" (Press release). Farnborough, Hampshire: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ^ ""Extremely difficult": Air Mandalay shuts down amid overcapacity". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ Reals, Kerry (1 February 2011). "Trans States firms up order for up to 100 MRJs". London: Flightglobal. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Aircraft says Trans States cancels order for 50 SpaceJet regional jets". Reuters. 31 October 2019.
- ^ Team, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation News. "Contract with Aerolease Aviation ended". www.mitsubishiaircraft.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ "Iran plans to buy 20 regional jets from Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy". Reuters. 7 August 2016.
- ^ "No negotiations with Russia, China over purchasing airplanes". Tehran times. 21 May 2017.
- ^ "Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation Statement: Cancellation of Trans States Holdings Contract". mitsubishiaircraft.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ ガンバレ、国産ジェ���ト旅客機・MRJ! 政府専用機で10機購入へ [Hang in there, domestic jetliner—MRJ! Government to purchase 10 aircraft]. Coracora column (Blog) (in Japanese). 17 October 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ 国産ジェット旅客機「MRJ」、政府が10機調達へ [The government to procure 10 domestic jetliner "MRJ"]. Flight Blogger Nippon (Blog) (in Japanese). 19 October 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ "政府専用機「777」軸に後継検討 燃費の良さ重視". 日本経済新聞. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
- ^ "North American customer enters talks on 15-unit M100 deal". Flightglobal.com. 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Mesa Airlines agrees to buy up to 100 SpaceJet M100s".
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi SpaceJet. |
- Official website
- Bjorn Fehrm (January 2, 2018). "Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation's tough 2017". Leeham.
- Stephen Trimble (6 Jul 2018). "Mitsubishi poised to put MRJ90 centre-stage". Flightglobal.
- Alexa Rexroth (June 28, 2018). "Mitsubishi Sees Clear Skies Ahead for MRJ". AIN online.
- Richard Aboulafia (Sep 27, 2018). "Opinion: Why Japan's Aerospace Strategy Needs A Rethink". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aircraft
- Toyota
- Twinjets
- 2010s Japanese airliners
- Low-wing aircraft
- Aircraft first flown in 2015