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Maiden flight of SpaceJet M90 in final configuration

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. completed the maiden flight of the SpaceJet M90 in its final, certifiable baseline configuration. The company’s Flight Test Vehicle 10 (FTV10) took off on March 18 at 14:53 (JST) from Prefectural Nagoya Airport and conducted basic aircraft performance tests in normal operating conditions over the Pacific Ocean.

After approximately two hours of flight, the aircraft returned to Nagoya at 16:40 (JST). Mitsubishi Aircraft states that with the completion of FTV10’s first flight, it is prepared to enter the final phase of certification flight testing for the SpaceJet M90, the first commercial jet manufactured in Japan.

“I am very pleased that FTV10, which was handed over from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in January this year, successfully conducted its first flight today,” said Hisakazu Mizutani, president of Mitsubishi Aircraft. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who are continuously supporting the program.”

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Captain Hiroyoshi Takase, who piloted FTV10’s maiden flight along with Akira Udagawa (with a combined total of more than 19,000 flight hours), noted the aircraft delivered on expectations and handled as expected.

In coming weeks, Mitsubishi Aircraft plans to continue flight tests on FTV10 in Nagoya, as well as prepare for the ferry flight to Moses Lake Flight Test Center (MFC) to join the remainder of the Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 test fleet for the final phase of type certification flight tests.

“Today’s announcement is especially encouraging, as it marks the start of certification flight testing for the first SpaceJet M90 in final, certifiable configuration,” said Alex Bellamy, Mitsubishi Aircraft’s chief development officer. “We are all proud of this latest accomplishment, which reflects the hard work of a dedicated team, the culmination of an organizational transformation and all of the engineering changes made since 2016.”