Mitsubishi MU-2
Mitsubishi Aircraft International · Japan · first flew 1963 · light aircraft
The Mitsubishi MU-2 is a Japanese high-performance twin-turboprop utility and business aircraft with an unconventional high-lift wing system, widely operated in civilian and military roles since 1965.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Stubby fuselage with large oval cabin windows and T-tail empennage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing twin turboprop with spoilers rather than conventional ailerons for roll control
- Stubby fuselage with large oval cabin windows and T-tail empennage
- Retractable tricycle gear with main gear housed in prominent fuselage sponsons
Distinctive high-wing twin turboprop with no visible ailerons on the straight wing (replaced by spoilers), prominent fuselage sponsons for the main undercarriage, and a T-tail; short stubby fuselage relative to wingspan.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi MU-2 has a length of 12.02 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.94 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 565 km/h (351 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Mitsubishi began MU-2 development in the late 1950s as an executive transport; it first flew on 14 September 1963 and entered production both in Japan and at a US facility in San Angelo, Texas, for the North American market. The type uses full-span double-slotted flaps and spoilers instead of ailerons to achieve excellent short-field performance from a high-speed wing. Over 700 were built by the end of production in 1986.
Variants
Numerous variants from the short-fuselage MU-2B through the stretched MU-2L (Marquise) and MU-2N (Solitaire); military versions designated LR-1 and MU-2S served with the JGSDF and JASDF for liaison and search-and-rescue.
Where you'll see it
Widely operated globally in corporate, charter, and utility roles; military versions served the JGSDF and JASDF into the 2000s. A contentious safety record in the US led to FAA-mandated special pilot training requirements from 2008.
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- Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond
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- Beechcraft King Air
- Beechcraft Musketeer
- Fournier RF-4
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