Japan to launch new passenger jet

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has confirmed it is going ahead with a $1bn (£500m) project to launch Japan's first home-grown passenger jet aircraft.

BBC

Apart from sales to their national carriers will they be able to break into the market with this project? also surely not the greatest time to announce/introduce a new aircraft with a pretty major recession around the corner?

reply to post by solidshot


I don't know about breaking into the market. It's a big industry. Sounds like they are testing the waters with a small short/medium range aircraft. It says it would seat between 70-90 passengers. By comparison the Boeing 737 (built for short/medium range) seats about 126 with the "stretch version" seating about 160-180. I'm assuming their plane will be very fuel economical efficient though.

1billion is rather cheap for the development of an airliner, no? Eh, I hope the engines are successful, Pratt hasn't been in 'the game' for a while.

Originally posted by C0bzz
I hope the engines are successful, Pratt hasn't been in 'the game' for a while.

Pratt have a new geared turbofan out doing the rounds.


Its going into the Bombardier CSeries IIRC.