The third attempt proved a charm as Mitsubishi Aircraft successfully landed it’s MRJ-90 regional jet at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington.
The aircraft had three stops along the way at New Chitose Airport Japan, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport, Russia and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska. Extra fuel bladders were loaded onto the aircraft to enable the aircraft to have as few stops as possible. Flight Test Aircraft (FTA-1; JA21MJ) took off from Nagoya Japan at 1:28 pm JST on Monday and arrived at Moses Lake on Wednesday at 5:44 pm PST. Total flight time was 13 hrs 8 minutes flying which covered a distance of 8,300 km.
During the flight from Japan, plane spotters noted how the aircraft wasn’t available to track regularly after it left Japan on services like Flight Radar 24. Mitsubishi Aircraft responded that each of the four aircraft, once… Continue reading
[UPDATE we received guidance on numbers from OEMs, changing the charts]
We decided to take another look at the point of friction where the small duopoly meets the big duopoly. Looking at some payload, empty weight and the combining this with fuel and seat capacity we created this chart.
The choice of metrics is there to provide a mapping of the current solutions available, so this is not meant to assess the operational capabilities of a given aircraft, although it becomes obvious that Airbus and Boeing are correct in their assessment that the market is moving towards up-gauging narrow bodies and that it thus leaves Bombardier and Embraer to compete in a market that is not so much about growth as it is replacement. Continue reading
Airbus notified the industry that its first A330neo has started assembly in Toulouse. The first aircraft will be an A330-900. The next model will be an A330-800, which be shorter. The A330-800 and the A330-900 are 99% common and 95% common across the entire A330 fleet. The plan is to optimize costs and flexibility for operators. Airlines will also benefit from the Family’s market-leading reliability and reduced maintenance costs, says Airbus. Airbus claims 1,600 orders for the A330 family to date, and 1,250 aircraft flying with over 120 airlines.
Airbus provided these images from the FAL. Continue reading
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[UPDATE – MITAC responded to our request for ferry information as follows: “The company policy allows us to give you details after the arrival at Moses Lake.”. Meanwhile you try to track the aircraft from here. As you can see they turn off the tracking ability soon after takeoff. Wonder why the secrecy?]
The Mitsubishi MRJ is trying to get to Moses Lake again. Currently the aircraft in Sapporo, the airport code of its location is CTS. Take a look at the chart to see what the route looks like. Continue reading
How far can it really go? Bombardier specs say the CS300 can fly 3,300NM. That is a good distance for a small aircraft. Right now BBA508, a CS300, is on its way from Wichita, Kansas to Keflavik in Iceland – non-stop. The distance is 3,478NM. Continue reading
The South China Sea fracas is about to see another ratchet. China’s interests in bolstering its claims (dismissed by the International Tribunal and ignored by China) will have a new tool, the AG600.
The China People’s Daily wryly noted the AG600 can reach the most remote parts of China. This aircraft clearly is going to play a role to the remote “islands” that are in much dispute. Even though the aircraft is behind schedule, its emergence sends an ominous regional signal. Ostensibly a civilian aircraft, the AG600 clearly has dual use capabilities.
With a range of 4,500km the AG600 (also known as the TA600) can cover a wide area. From Hainan’s Haikou Meilan International Airport the AG600 can easily go anywhere in China’s areas of interest. Is there any wonder India bought the Japanese ShinMaywa? There is a possibility that other nations bordering… Continue reading
In the single aisle market the dominance of Airbus and Boeing is total. Take a look at this chart.
Daher today announced the completion of its 800th TBM fast turboprop business aircraft, which rolled out from the company’s final assembly line at France’s Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport. (This airport is home to an interesting location)
The Airbus A321 has been doing a lot of winning lately. Air Lease Corporation announced placements of six new Airbus A321neo aircraft with Azores Airlines. The CFM leap 1A engine-powered aircraft from ALC’s order book with Airbus will deliver between 4Q17 and early 2021. The new ALC A321neo aircraft will replace Azores Airlines’ A310 fleet.
Airbus’ announcement was more detailed:”Azores airlines which is fully owned by Sociedade Açoreana de Transportes Aéreos (SATA) is modernizing its short-haul and transatlantic fleet with the A321neo and by 2019 with the longer range A321LR. The decision follows a growth strategy to expand into new transatlantic routes.”
What makes this particular selection interesting? Air travel across the Atlantic between African islands and the US exists now. TACV is the airline and it is based in Cabo Verde. This is a group of islands off the African… Continue reading
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