X-2 makes maiden flight
The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) X-2 (formerly Advanced Technology Demonstrator – Experimental [ATD-X]) ‘Shinshin’ (Spirit) fifth-generation fighter technology demonstrator made its maiden flight on 22 April.
The milestone, which took place a day later than scheduled because of poor weather, saw the experimental aircraft depart from Nagoya Airport before conducting a series of flight characteristics trials. It landed at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF’s) Gifu Air Base, some 50 km to the north.
“Control of the aircraft went exactly as in our simulated training sessions,” the test pilot is reported as saying.
As the co-ordinating company of the X-2 development project, MHI has been developing the aircraft’s airframe since 2009 with co-operation provided by 220 domestic companies and guidance from Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA).
