The rugged and dependable MU-2 is now obtainable for pilots to take to the skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
THE INSPIRATION
The MU-2 was born out of a strict utilitarian design philosophy, daring in kind and efficiency. The late Nineteen Fifties and early Sixties witnessed the emergence of the turbine engine as a vastly improved technique of propulsion for many aviation functions. Engineers at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sought to create a brand new utility plane to optimize the benefits of the turboprop type of the turbine engine, together with excessive velocity, excessive endurance, obtainable energy, and glorious quick subject efficiency. Their efforts resulted in one of many aviation world’s most enduringly succesful plane, the MU-2.
THE AIRCRAFT
The MU-2 is a twin-turboprop, high-wing utility plane with a pressurized cabin. The plane took its maiden flight on September 14, 1963, and entered full-scale manufacturing later that yr. 704 airframes have been manufactured throughout a manufacturing run from 1963 to 1986.
The distinctive MU-2 developed from a clear sheet initiative to develop an airframe that would present environment friendly, dependable service for a variety of civil, governmental and navy makes use of. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries engineers first started engaged on the challenge within the mid-Nineteen Fifties, laying the idea for an plane powered by turboprop engines. At the time, most plane producers merely swapped turboprop powerplants into plane initially designed for piston energy, which brought about effectivity, reliability, and typically security issues.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries mated the facility functionality of turboprop engines obtainable on the time with a meticulously designed wing, fuselage, and empennage mixture. The consequence was an plane that would carry out exceptionally effectively at a spread of altitudes by way of velocity and effectivity, had nice vary, and will function out of all varieties of services, together with unimproved quick subject airstrips. The firm named the plane the MU-2 because it was the second design iteration of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Utility collection plane.
The utility of the MU-2 is broad. It has efficiently confirmed itself as a enterprise and VIP plane, an air ambulance, search and rescue platform, and as a basic cargo service. It has additionally served all kinds of navy roles, together with liaison and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) collections. Over the years, a number of iterations have been launched, together with these with prolonged fuselages, enhanced energy variants, and prolonged vary variations.
The MU-2 measures 39 toes, 5 inches in size, stands 13 toes, 8 inches excessive, and has a straight fundamental wing with a span of 39 toes, 2 inches. The wing options wingtip gasoline tanks and over-wing spoilers for roll management. It additionally options full-span, double-slotted flaps. The distinctive wing design permits for gradual take-off and touchdown speeds and excessive cruising speeds. The MU-2 has a standard empennage and retractable tricycle touchdown gear.
The MU-2 is powered by two wing-mounted TPE331-6-251 turboprop engines that every produce as much as 776 horsepower. Each powerplant turns a 3-blade Hartzell absolutely feathering, reversible, constant-speed propeller. The MU-2 has a spread of 1,450 miles, a service ceiling of 29,590 toes above sea degree, and climbs at 2,360 toes per minute. It cruises at 300 miles per hour, has a prime velocity of 340 mph, and stalls at 115 mph (flaps down). The plane can take off with 2,170 toes of floor roll and might land utilizing 1,880 toes of runway.
ADVENTURE AWAITS
The distinctive efficiency of the Microsoft Flight Simulator MU-2 and its capacity to get into and out of a broad vary of touchdown areas, together with grime strips, provides aviators limitless alternatives for exploration and flying discoveries. From flights between main cities to expeditions into jungle mountain airstrips, the MU-2 delivers.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2 comes with 5 liveries: White, Executive White, Executive Black, Xbox Aviators Club, and Aviators Club. It is out there immediately for $14.99 within the in-sim market. The sky is looking!
Microsoft Flight Simulator is out there for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported cellphones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs through Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the newest data on Microsoft Flight Simulator, keep tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (previously often known as Twitter).
