Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond
Mitsubishi Aircraft International · Japan · first flew 1978 · light aircraft
The Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond was Japan's first indigenously designed business jet, later sold to Beechcraft and rebranded as the Beechjet 400, which became the US military's T-1A Jayhawk trainer.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.76 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Clean low-wing business jet with rear-mounted engines and a T-tail
- Swept wings with slightly supercritical profile and winglet-free tips
- Oval cabin windows and a tall T-tail empennage with ventral fin
Classic late-1970s business jet layout with low swept wings, pod-mounted rear engines on the aft fuselage, and a high T-tail; cleaner and less angled than the Learjet family, with a wider oval fuselage cross-section.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond has a length of 14.76 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.23 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 883 km/h (549 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Mitsubishi began developing a corporate jet in the early 1970s; the MU-300 prototype flew on 29 August 1978 powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D turbofans. The design targeted the mid-size business jet market but sales were slow; in 1985 Mitsubishi sold the type certificate and production rights to Beechcraft, which produced it as the Beechjet 400 and later 400A. The US Air Force ordered 180 as the T-1A Jayhawk tanker/transport trainer, ensuring the type's commercial success.
Variants
The MU-300-10 was the initial production version; Beechcraft evolved it into the Beechjet 400/400A and Hawker 400XP; the military T-1A Jayhawk is the USAF advanced pilot training variant.
Where you'll see it
Mitsubishi produced 88 MU-300s before the sale to Beechcraft; the design went on to serve the USAF, Japan Air Self-Defence Force, and numerous civil operators worldwide, with the Beechjet 400 family still in service.
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