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 type 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 some great benefits of the turboprop type of the turbine engine, together with excessive velocity, excessive endurance, obtainable energy, and wonderful 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 12 months. 704 airframes have been manufactured throughout a manufacturing run from 1963 to 1986.
The distinctive MU-2 advanced from a clear sheet initiative to develop an airframe that might 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. On the time, most plane producers merely swapped turboprop powerplants into plane initially designed for piston energy, which precipitated effectivity, reliability, and generally 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 might carry out exceptionally properly at a variety of altitudes by way of velocity and effectivity, had nice vary, and will function out of all sorts of amenities, together with unimproved quick subject airstrips. The corporate 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 provider. It has additionally served all kinds of navy roles, together with liaison and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) collections. Over time, 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 ft, 5 inches in size, stands 13 ft, 8 inches excessive, and has a straight essential wing with a span of 39 ft, 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 sluggish take-off and touchdown speeds and excessive cruising speeds. The MU-2 has a conventional 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. Every powerplant turns a 3-blade Hartzell totally feathering, reversible, constant-speed propeller. The MU-2 has a variety of 1,450 miles, a service ceiling of 29,590 ft above sea degree, and climbs at 2,360 ft per minute. It cruises at 300 miles per hour, has a high velocity of 340 mph, and stalls at 115 mph (flaps down). The plane can take off with 2,170 ft of floor roll and might land utilizing 1,880 ft of runway.
ADVENTURE AWAITS
The distinctive efficiency of the Microsoft Flight Simulator MU-2 and its potential to get into and out of a broad vary of touchdown areas, together with filth strips, offers 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, Government White, Government Black, Xbox Aviators Membership, and Aviators Membership. It’s obtainable at this time for $14.99 within the in-sim market. The sky is asking!
Microsoft Flight Simulator is obtainable for Xbox Collection X|S and PC with Xbox Recreation Move, PC Recreation Move, Home windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported cell phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs through Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the most recent data on Microsoft Flight Simulator, keep tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (previously often called Twitter).