Mitsubishi Aircraft has decided not to bring its MRJ regional jet to the Singapore air show, so the aircraft can focus on its test programme.
The show’s organiser Experia says it had hoped for the in-development jet to display at the show’s static line.
In response to Flightglobal, Mitsubishi says “the priority is to move forward the MRJ programme”.
Asked if the manufacturer intends to bring the jet to the Farnborough air show in July, it says: “It seems a challenge to bring the aircraft this year. We will deliberate that as we move forward.”
Mitsubishi will however have a MRJ cabin mock-up on display at the Singapore air show, and will offer a tour on 17 February.
The MRJ FTA-1 resumed flight testing only last week, with a fourth test flight, after being on the ground for more than two months. The prototype was undergoing structural reinforcements and system software upgrades.
Mitsubishi had identified the need to strengthen the aircraft’s wing roots and fuselage frame above the centre wing, after it conducted structural tests before the aircraft’s first flight last November. It has since applied a “temporary treatment”, strengthening the section with “additional plates”.
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Source: Cirium Dashboard
