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Mitsubishi’s MU-300 evolves through acquisitions and upgrades

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Mitsubishi’s MU-300 evolves through acquisitions and upgrades
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JSX Aircraft | Official Website

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), a prominent name in Japanese aviation, has a storied history dating back to its early days as an aircraft builder before and during World War II. Following the war, Japan's industrial conglomerates were dismantled, but by 1952, Mitsubishi resumed using its historical name and consolidated under MHI in 1964. This move positioned MHI at the forefront of Japan's aviation revival.

In the mid-1950s, MHI was instrumental in developing the YS-11 twin-turboprop airliner and later introduced the MU-2 high-wing twin aircraft. These successes paved the way for Mitsubishi to enter the general aviation market with the MU-300 Diamond business jet program in 1977.

The MU-300 Diamond featured conventional design elements with all-swept surfaces and a T-tail, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-4 turbofans. It could accommodate two pilots and up to eight passengers. The first prototype took flight on August 29, 1978, followed by certification in November 1981 after addressing new safety requirements.

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Production of the Diamond began in July 1982 at San Angelo, Texas. In subsequent years, Mitsubishi introduced improvements with models like the Diamond 1A and Diamond II. However, in December 1985, Beechcraft acquired design rights for the Diamond II from Mitsubishi and rebranded it as Beechjet 400.

Beechcraft further developed this model into variants like Beechjet 400A and Hawker-branded versions after Raytheon's acquisition of British Aerospace's business jet line. Despite production ceasing following Hawker Beechcraft's collapse in 2013, Textron continues to support these aircraft due to their performance and cost-efficiency.

Nextant Aerospace identified potential for upgrades with its Nextant 400XT remanufacturing program that modernized existing airframes with new engines and avionics systems. Similarly, Textron offers its own upgrade path through the Hawker/Beechcraft lineage via programs like the Hawker XPR series.

These developments have ensured that this "little Japanese jet" remains visible across executive airfields worldwide.

Organizations Included in this History
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