Story ID: GPmrjtesting01132015
Mitsubishi Runs Engines on First MRJ
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: Commences "full scale" testing ahead of first flight 
Word Count: 278
Mitsubishi Aircraft has started what it calls full-scale testing of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) ahead of first flight scheduled in the second quarter. Most recently the company ran the starboard engine of the MRJ flight-test aircraft for the first time at Nagoya Airport on Tuesday. The engine run verified the “total operations” of the aircraft’s various systems, including hydraulic, fuel, air conditioning, electrical systems and power systems, said Mitsubishi in a statement.

The company also performed the wing up-bending test on the static-strength test aircraft at the strength test station adjacent to MHI’s Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works Komaki South Plant on December 25. During testing, engineers applied the maximum load they expect the aircraft to encounter during flight. According to Mitsubishi, the wing-bending test produced anticipated results.

First flight will mark the start of a planned two-year test program consisting of five flying prototypes and two ground-test aircraft. Function tests of various systems on the first flight-test airplane began in September, and testing on the static-strength test aircraft started on October 10.

The company expects simultaneous Japanese and FAA certification to require some 2,500 flight-test hours. Plans call for the first flying prototype to perform envelope expansion and systems tests, the second to carry out performance and function tests, the third to evaluate detailed flight characteristics and avionics tests, the fourth to perform interior, community noise and icing tests and the fifth to assess autopilot function. Although the company plans to do most of its flight-testing from Nagoya, it has also arranged for some of the trials to take place at Moses Lake, Washington, in the U.S.