'Typical of Comparable Airplanes'

Air Safety Week, May 24, 2004

The Mitsubishi position on MU-2 design and handling qualities

Concerning pilot skill required:

The FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has certified the MU-2 as not requiring "exceptional pilot skill." As with most turboprop twins, the airplane does not require a professional pilot, but it should be flown professionally.

Concerning wing loading:

The wing loading and performance meets all FAA certification requirements. Wing loading varies from airplane to airplane and high wing loading improves performance in unstable air. For example, the Boeing 747 with a wing loading of approximately 145 pounds/square inch, and a Cessna 150 with a wing loading of about 15 pounds/square inch, both meet FAA certification requirements.

Concerning power loading:

The MU-2 is typical of comparable airplanes.

Concerning ailerons versus spoilers:

Spoilers do not complicate control in low-speed engine failures. All aircraft must demonstrate to the FAA their controllability during sudden engine failures. Moreover, the usage of spoilers for roll control is widespread in many sophisticated transport and military aircraft.

Concerning stability relative to other high-wing twins:

The MU-2 wing has been tailored for slow-speed flight. The outboard wing panel incorporates a significant amount of washout (reduced angle of attack). In addition, there is increasing leading edge camber in the outboard wing. These two geometric features combine to ensure that the inboard wing stalls prior to the outboard wing.

Concerning engine-out controllability on rotation:

The Honeywell (formerly Garrett) TPE 331 engines employed on the MU-2 and many other turboprop airplanes have a negative torque sensing system that immediately begins to eliminate propeller drag in the event of an engine failure at any point during flight.

This is an area that was reviewed by the FAA during certification of the aircraft and the aircraft was demonstrated to be controllable. In addition, sudden engine failure after takeoff is part of the pilot training syllabus.

Concerning single-engine climbout:

The MU-2 meets all FAA certification requirements. There are certain conditions and combination of temperature, altitude, weight, etc., that can be challenging. When the MU-2 is operated in accordance with the FAA-approved airplane flight manual, the ability to take off and return to the runway has been demonstrated consistently.

Source: Mitsubishi America, Inc., Aircraft Product Support Div.

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