Japan's first homemade jet likely to take maiden flight in May
TOKYO -- The Mitsubishi Regional Jet, Japan's first domestically
built passenger jet, is expected to make its maiden flight in late May,
just ahead of an international air show in June.
The plane's
developer, Mitsubishi Aircraft, apparently has notified major suppliers,
such as engine manufacturers, of the schedule. May 29 is now seen as
the most likely date. The company had planned to fly the MRJ during the
October-December period of 2013, but later postponed it to April-June
2015.
The Mitsubishi Regional Jet made its public appearance in October.
The company seeks to perform a successful maiden flight
before the International Paris Air Show in mid-June, a timeline it sees
as important to win more orders.
So far, six airlines in
Japan, the U.S. and Myanmar have ordered just over 400 of the aircraft.
The jets will likely be delivered to customers during the April-June
period of 2017 for commercial flights.
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