Mitsubishi gives up on Japan's first domestically manufactured passenger jet
- Reference: 1675776613
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/02/07/mitsubishi_spacejet_officially_dead/
- Source link:
Although the decision was already made internally, Mitsubishi released the details of the cancelation to the public within its Q3 2022 [1]reports . The company said it was "unable to find sufficient business feasibility to resume development" of the 90-passenger jet.
The public-private enterprise was launched 15 years ago and, as Japan's first domestically manufactured passenger jet, was meant to spark a new industry within the country.
[2]
Development was unfortunately [3]paused in October 2020 after repeated delays on grounds it was not a high-growth opportunity. The project was already behind schedule and COVID-related setbacks were not helping.
[4]Mitsubishi grounds its attempt to crack the passenger jet market
[5]Let me X-plane: Boeing R&D unit sheds rudder, ailerons, flaps for DARPA project
[6]China's single aisle passenger jet – the C919 – likely to be certified next week
[7]Boeing bids the 747 a final, ultimate, conclusive farewell
The cumulative delays and setbacks that finally did the project in, according to Mitsubishi, include the lagging of the technology partial review that prolonged development, a new industry focus on decarbonization, the difficulty in securing overseas partners, a lack of space for the product in the market, and the funds needed to acquire a type certificate.
But MHI's language suggests its aircraft designing days are not over. The company said it would "continue to utilize the knowledge of SpaceJet to develop the Japanese aircraft industry" and that it can apply its knowledge to a next-gen fighter jet.
[8]
Those lessons include designing, manufacturing, and certifying an aircraft. The SpaceJet has already logged over 3,900 flight test hours.
RIP, SpaceJet. ®
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[1] https://www.mhi.com/jp/news/23020701.html
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Y@KDscQrFlr94jxc-DF@CQAAAAM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2020/11/02/mitsubishi_spacejet_paused/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2020/11/02/mitsubishi_spacejet_paused/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/18/boeing_x_plane_darpa/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/14/chinas_c919_passenger_jet_certification/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/01/boeing_747_final_goodbye/
[8] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y@KDscQrFlr94jxc-DF@CQAAAAM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[9] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Better luck next time around
Excellent pun. I wonder how many get that :).
I'm not sure about MHI's optimism about transferring skills from regional jet design to next gen fighters... Unless carrying passengers while on sorties is a new way of funding the armed forces?
To be fair, starting with civil aircraft design skills is better than starting with no skills at all, but....
Inexperienced?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_F-2
I assume what actually happened is the designers were too enthusiastic, and kept coming into meetings with plans for afterburners and mach 1.2-capable delta-wings.
The final straw was trying to install a drop-sight in the cargo bay.
SpaceJet
Regional aircraft called space jet? It seems like the project was doomed from the start.
Why did they not call it AroundTheCornerJet or TwoBlocksAwayJet?
That sounds more local.
Re: SpaceJet
@elsergiovolador
It's no more ludicrous than calling a rocket "starship"
Re: SpaceJet
Had nothing to do with 'Space', but it rather had everything to do with the spaciousness of the cabin. It was similar to the Bombardier CS100 (now the Airbus A220), compared to the cramped Bombardier CRJ series (pretty much the standard regional jet in North America) anyway.
Re: SpaceJet
Same as a "Widebody" jet is not made to comfortably accomodate your "wide body" unless you pay through the nose for the upgrade.
Re: SpaceJet
Ya, the CRJ series is.....small. Like suck-it-in-and-watch-your-head small.
Chinese A320 clone
The Chinese made the right decision to develop an A320-clone, which is one of the world's best selling aircraft.
The market for a regional jet is limited, although I would add that Embrear isn't doing to bad with its E190, which is similar in size and configuration to the SpaceJet. I've flown on the E190 and it's a workhorse within Europe and the U.S.
Better luck next time around
They will get there eventually.
Keep in mind, they do not have ZERO experience in the aviation industry.