三菱飞机试飞第一架改进设计的SpaceJet

3月18日，随着第六架SpaceJet的原型机起飞，三菱公司朝着区域喷气式飞机的认证迈出了一大步，尽管它并没有透露具体希望何时达到这一里程碑。

Flying a sixth SpaceJet prototype on March 18, Mitsubishi Aircraft took a big step toward certification of the regional jet, though it is not saying when exactly it hopes to reach that milestone.

这架飞机是在公司宣布第六个项目推迟1.5个月后亮相的，也是公司第一次连完成开发的目标日期都没有指明。不过，延期至少会持续9个月。三菱飞机预计，一旦新原型机加入该计划在美国的飞行测试业务，预计延期将相应缩短。

The flight came 1.5 months after the company announced a sixth program delay—and for the first time did not even name a target date for completing development. The extension will be at least nine months long, however. Mitsubishi Aircraft expects to narrow down its outlook once the new prototype has joined the program’s flight-testing operation in the U.S. 

这架双引擎SpaceJet由普惠公司的PW1200提供动力。2008年，在该项目启动时，计划于2013年底首次交付。全日空是该机型的首飞运营商。

The twin-engine SpaceJet is powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1200. When the program was launched in 2008, first delivery was scheduled for late 2013. All Nippon Airways is the launch operator.

该计划在10月份丢了一个大客户，当时美国跨国控股公司（Trans-States Holdings）取消了购买50架SpaceJet的协议，另外50架的采购也被延期。这家控股公司是美国几家航空公司的所有者，随后决定关闭其中一家，即跨州航空公司。

The program lost a major customer in October, when Trans States Holdings canceled an agreement to buy 50 SpaceJets and take options on 50 more. That company, the owner of several carriers in the U.S., has since decided to close one of them, Trans States Airlines.

这条消息是Bradley Perrett在Aviation Week & Space Technology发表文章的摘要。 订阅者可以阅读整篇文章了解关于该款航天飞机试飞和开发的更多细节。

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