Special Report: Aviation Technology
Briefly …
July 1st 2014
Read More » Mitsubishi completes wing-body construction
The wings of Mitsubishi’s first flight test regional jet have been joined with the aircraft’s fuselage at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries final assembly plant in Nagoya. The wing-body combination will be followed by the engine mounting at the Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works. U.S. company, Spirit AeroSystems has delivered the pylons for the next stage and the engine, a PurePower PW1200G has been shipped to Nagoya ready for the engine mounting.
Mitsubishi Regional Jet is a family of 70-90 seat next generation aircraft powered by P&W PurePower engines. The jet is designed to significantly reduce fuel consumption, noise and greenhouse gas emissions and offers improved standards of passenger comfort.
Europe’s small planemakers seek China partners
The supplier of aircraft for Italy’s Ferrari motor racing team, Piaggio Aero Industries, is seeking Mainland Chinese partners to establish a joint venture to build airplanes. If Piaggio succeeds, it will follow in the path of big aircraft manufacturer Embraer and business aviation companies such as Cessna, who have set up joint production companies with Chinese in China.
Ferrari still has a small equity in Piaggio Aero, said the company’s chief commercial officer, Giuliano Felten, who is doing the scouting for business on the Mainland. Its scooter division makes the famous Vespa, a factor which attracted its current owner, Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Development – and may also result in a scooter joint venture in China.
