Vol. 3
July 2015
MRJ Newsletter
“Program Update”
MRJ’s fatigue test aircraft starts final assembly
The last of all seven test aircraft, including five
flight test aircraft started final assembly, when
the rear section of the aft fuselage of the fatigue
test aircraft was brought into the final assembly
line on June 30.
There are two types of test aircraft to validate the
strength of airframe structure. One is for static
strength test, while the other one is for fatigue test.
The static strength testing has been continuously
carried out since last year to confirm and verify
strength, during which the maximum load that the
aircraft is expected to experience while flying is applied on the ground to the static test aircraft.
Fatigue strength tests, on the other hand, confirm and verify durability by simulating the repeated stress the airframe is
expected to undergo when in operation. MRJ fatigue strength testing will be conducted on the assumption that the MRJ will
make 80,000 flights over a period of more than 27 years, or eight flights per day for 10,000 days.
Construction status of
MRJ manufacturing facility (New Komaki South Plant)
Progress at the MRJ manufacturing factory in Komaki Minami
(New Komaki South Plant), on which construction began in
January, is advancing at a rapid clip with the assembly of the steel
building frame. Progress is visible every day as cranes lift the
building materials into place. It is at this plant, still under
construction, that aircraft will be
fitted with various system parts
Image
followed by final assembly.
Aircraft for customers will all be
manufactured in and delivered
from this new plant.
“Hot Topic”
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation’s Head Office
In this issue, we introduce the Head Office, our workplace at Mitsubishi Aircraft.
Mitsubishi Aircraft relocated its complete Head Office functions to the Nagoya Airport
Terminal Building this January, next to the airport and the MRJ’s final assembly plant,
in preparation for upcoming flight tests and the ramped-up manufacturing system.
Currently, approximately 1,500 employees are gathered on the second floor of the
Terminal Building. As everyone is on the same floor, employees accomplish
development work amid lively communication.
Head Office Building
The 2nd floor space housing the office was previously used as the airport’s departure
lobby, and remnants of that legacy are everywhere, including the split-flap display
board, still in place. Also, flights between Nagoya Airport and other domestic cities
such as Fukuoka can be seen taking off and landing from the windows all along one
wall of the office.
Beginning this fall, it will be possible to watch from these windows as the MRJ takes
flight on new journeys. All employees are pulling together in anticipation of that day.
Office Floor