Mitsubishi Aircraft has started low-speed taxiing tests on the first Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) flight test aircraft at the Nagoya Airport in the Aichi prefecture, Japan.
Taxiing is the process where an aircraft moves from one place at an airport to another, prior to take-off and after landing.
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Taxiing tests on MRJ will evaluate braking at low speeds and direction control steering.
Mitsubishi Aircraft and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries intend to conduct the first flight of MRJ in September or October this year.
The 70 to 90-seat, next-generation, regional aircraft are said to offer substantial fuel savings while reducing noise and emissions.
With the MRJ, Mitsubishi Aircraft intends to compete with Canada’s Bombardier in the segment.
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By GlobalDataThe company has so far logged 407 orders for MRJ, which was unveiled in October 2014.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower engines, the aircraft will feature advanced aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption, noise, and emissions.
The companies will soon start collaborating on completion operations such as ground testing and preparations to commence production of MRJ airliners.
The MRJ’s first flight was originally planned before the end of June; however, the companies postponed the flight to incorporate verification results of various ground tests and related feedback into the test aircraft.
Image: Mitsubishi Regional Jet aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation.
