Boeing To Consult on MRJ Project

By: Gregory Polek

September 4, 2008
Aerospace Industry, Aircraft

Mitsubishi Aircraft has signed a support contract with Boeing under which the Chicago-based company will serve as a consultant on the 70- to 90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jet, the Japanese company said today.

Under the terms of the contract, Boeing will help with marketing, development and aftermarket activities for the pair of new regional jets, the first of which the companies expect to reach the market in 2013. 

The two companies maintain longstanding ties in the field of commercial aircraft production. Currently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries makes the composite wing boxes for the Boeing 787, including the outer skins, stringers, girders and ribs. It also makes parts for the 747, 767 and 777 series of airliners.

The MRJ’s wings and empennage would consist largely of composites, the technology for which Mitsubishi’s work on the 787 has helped refine. Other new technology destined for the MRJ includes the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1000G engine, formerly known as the Geared Turbofan. Pratt & Whitney plans to start detailed design on the version of the PW1000G destined for the MRJ by year-end, in time for first MRJ engine to enter testing roughly a year later.

With the help of the PW1000G, lightweight composite parts and a “state of the art” aerodynamics, Mitsubishi claims that the MRJ will offer a 20-percent operating cost advantage over any competing aircraft.

Back

United Signs Firm Order for 25 A350 XWB aircraft March 10, 2010 United Airlines has signed a firm order for 25 Airbus A350-900 XWBs, formalizing a commitment originally announced last December, the European... [more]
Airbus To Boost A320 Production in December March 09, 2010 Airbus plans to increase the monthly production rate for its single-aisle A320 family from the current rate of 34 to 36 starting in December,... [more]
Boeing, Turkish Airlines Finalize Order for 20 Next Generation 737s March 08, 2010 Boeing and Turkish Airlines have finalized an order for ten 737-800s and ten 737-900ERs, the manufacturer announced today. Now flying 66 Boeing... [more]
Atlas Air To Fly Boeing Dreamlifters, Replacing Evergreen March 05, 2010 Boeing has awarded a nine-year contract to Atlas Air for the operation of the manufacturer’s four Dreamlifter cargo haulers starting “toward the... [more]
Boeing To Close Sydney Plant March 05, 2010 Boeing plans to close its factory in Bankstown, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, in 2012 and move the work performed there to its plant in the... [more]