https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_MU-2

The Mitsubishi MU-2 is a Japanese high-wing, twin-engine turboprop aircraft with
a pressurized cabin manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It made its
maiden flight in September 1963 and was produced until 1986. It is one of
postwar Japan's most successful aircraft, with 704 manufactured in Japan and San
Angelo, Texas, in the United States.

Work on the MU-2, Mitsubishi's first postwar aircraft design, began in 1956.
Designed as a light twin turboprop transport suitable for a variety of civil and
military roles, the MU-2 first flew on 14 September 1963. This first MU-2, and
the three MU-2As built, were powered by the Turbomeca Astazou turboprop.

Civil MU-2s powered by Garrett engines were certified as variants of the MU-2B,
using the MU-2B type followed by a number. For marketing purposes, each variant
was given a suffix letter; the MU-2B-10, for example, was sold as the MU-2D,
while the MU-2B-36A was marketed as the MU-2N.


Role
Utility transport aircraft

National origin
Japan

Manufacturer
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

First flight
14 September 1963

Status
In service

Produced
1963–1986

Number built
704

In 1963, Mitsubishi granted Mooney Aircraft rights in North America to assemble,
sell, and support the MU-2. In 1965, Mooney established a facility to assemble
MU-2s at its new factory in San Angelo, Texas. Major components were shipped
from Japan, and the San Angelo factory installed engines, avionics, and
interiors, then painted, flight tested, and delivered the completed aircraft to
customers. By 1969, Mooney was in financial difficulty, and the San Angelo
facility was taken over by Mitsubishi. Production in the United States ended in
1986. The last Japanese-built aircraft was completed in January 1987.

The subsequent production aircraft, designated MU-2B, were delivered with the
Garrett TPE331 engines that remained standard on all later models. Thirty-four
MU-2Bs were built, followed by 18 examples of the similar MU-2D. The Japanese
armed forces purchased four unpressurized MU-2Cs and 16 search and rescue
variants designated MU-2E. Featuring slightly more powerful upgraded TPE331
engines, 95 examples of the MU-2F were sold.

As of 2005, 397 MU-2 aircraft are registered in the United States.

Safety concerns:

Concerns have been raised about safety in operating the aircraft; there have
been 337 fatalities from MU-2 crashes. As of October 2005, the United States
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) undertook a safety evaluation of the
aircraft. It concluded that the aircraft has met its certification requirements:
It is safe when operated by properly trained pilots who operate properly
maintained aircraft. The FAA is in the process of mandating training specific to
the MU-2, as it has in the past for other aircraft. When such mandated training
was required outside of the U.S., the MU-2 accident record was vastly improved.

Because the MU-2 offers very high performance at a relatively low cost, some of
its operators lack sufficient training and experience for such an advanced
aircraft. The MU-2 has performance similar to a small jet, yet early pilot
certification required only a simple endorsement from pilot certificates for
much slower twin piston-engine aircraft. The fact that numerous MU-2 pilots were
inexperienced at high speeds and high altitudes seems to have resulted in the
high crash rate. Once a type certification was required for an MU-2 pilot
certificate, the accident rate dropped to normal levels.

Specifications (MU-2L)

General characteristics
Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
Capacity: 4–12 passengers
Length: 12.01 m (39 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 11.94 m (39 ft 2 in)
Height: 4.17 m (13 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 16.55 m² (178 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,433 kg (7,570 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,250 kg (11,575 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Garrett TPE331-6-251M turboprops, 579 kW (776 shp) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 547 km/h (295 knots, 340 mph) at 4,575 m (15,000 ft) (max cruise)
Cruise speed: 483 km/h (261 knots, 300 mph) at 7,620 m (28,000 ft) (econ cruise)
Stall speed: 142 km/h (76.5 knots, 88 mph)
Range: 2,334 km (1,259 nmi, 1,450 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,020 m (29,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 13.4 m/s (2,630 ft/min)
Wing loading: 317 kg/m² (65.0 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 0.22 kW/kg (0.13 hp/lb)





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