MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - Japan unveiled the first passenger jet developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Ltd. Saturday at Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works in Aichi Prefecture, after a four year delay, with the first flight scheduled between April and June next year.
"A product 'Made in Japan', a product offering the highest levels of both operating economy and cabin comfort, is at long last about to leave the realm of dreams and become a reality," MHI chairman Hideaki Omiyo was quoted as saying in Mitsubishi's official statement.
"It's with utmost confidence and pride that we will soon be sending the MRJ out into the world," he added.
While the first flight is scheduled for 2015 on the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the first delivery will be in 2017.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by the state minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, other representatives from various ministries, and the president of the airline ANA Holdings.
"We're looking forward to getting the plane in 2017," ANA president Shinichiro Ito was quoted as saying at the event by Bloomberg, while a vice minister of transport added that the new jet would give a big lift to Japan's aviation industry.
Currently the aviation industry is led by the Brazilian Embraer S.A. and Canadian Bombardier Inc., but Mitsubishi hopes to take over in the next 20 years and expects global demand for regional jets to be about 5,000 planes by 2030, according to the news outlet.
Meanwhile, as Tokyo prepares to host the Olympics in 2020, the jet is expected to "certainly give a boost to Japan's economy", according to Yoshiharu Ueki, president of Japan Airlines Co.
Mitsubishi first planned to unveil the jet in 2008 but has since put off the test flights three times. There will be two models, a 78 and a 92 seat MRJ, with the larger model expected out first.
