MRJ Starts Full-Scale Tests Ahead of First Flight

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation has started full-scale testing of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) as it works toward the first flight scheduled for the second quarter of this year.

The company performed the first engine run for the starboard side engine of MRJ’s first flight test aircraft at the apron of Nagoya Airport (Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture) on  Tuesday, 13 January 2015.

The first engine run verified the aircraft’s various systems including hydraulic, fuel, air conditioning, electric systems as well as the power system.

The company also performed the wing up-bending test on the static strength test aircraft at the strength test station adjacent to Komaki South Plant of MHI's Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works (Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture) on 25 December 2014.

The static strength test is one of the airframe tests to inspect whether the aircraft meets safety standards in strength. During the testing, the maximum load that the aircraft is expected to experience while flying was applied to the wing of the static strength test aircraft, which was calculated from simulation of all flight conditions. The wing up-bending test produced the anticipated results.

Upcoming tests, ahead of the first flight, include functional tests and engineering tests.