Assembly work commences on first Mitsubishi Regional Jet
06 Apr 2011
Assembly work on the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) officially began with a ceremonial rivet-driving ceremony at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Tobishima plant.
Riveters began work on the frame structure of an MRJ90, driving rivets into an area surrounding the emergency escape hatch in the roof of the aircraft's cockpit, MHI and Mitsubishi Aircraft made a joint announcement.
According to Mitsubishi, commencement of assembly work indicates that the project remains on schedule for first flight in 2012, certification at the end of 2013 and entry into service in 2014.
Mitsubishi has firm orders for 65 MRJs, including fifteen 88-seat MRJ90s from launch customer All Nippon Airways, with options for another 10, and 50 undefined MRJs from St. Louis-based Trans States Holdings, with options for another 50.
Trans States will become the first US customer for the 76 and 88-seat family of regional jets.
MHI holds responsibility for the fabrication of the MRJ's fuselage, wings and empennage, apart from responsibility for final assembly and equipment installation of various components now under production by the project's various partners.
Pratt & Whitney, the engine suppliers, have recently completed assembly of the first engine for the MRJ–a PurePower PW1217G ''geared turbofan,'' rated at 17,000 pounds of thrust.
The PW1217G will soon make its way to Pratt & Whitney's West Palm Beach, Florida facility for testing.
