How Much Does A Mitsubishi MU-2 Cost?

If you’re in the market for a fast and affordable twin-turboprop airplane, the Mitsubishi MU2 might just be the one for you. With a max cruise speed of over 300 knots, the MU2 is known for its speed and ruggedness, making it right at home on short runways and rough terrain.

One of the secrets to the MU2’s speed lies in its unique wing design, which features double-slotted fowler flaps that cover the full length of the wing and spoilers on top to control roll. This innovative design, along with its powerful engines, allows the MU2 to reach speeds that are unmatched by other planes with similar horsepower. But with great speed comes great responsibility, and the MU2 demands an equal amount of skill and respect to utilize it safely.

Origins and Manufacturing

The Mitsubishi MU2 is a fast and unique airplane that was mainly built in Japan, with some units also built in the USA. Mitsubishi contracted Mooney to build them in the USA, but after four years, Mooney went bankrupt, and Mitsubishi took over the production.

The MU2’s speed is attributed to its tiny wings and the full-length double slotted Fowler flaps. The plane has no ailerons, but instead, it has spoilers on top of the wings to control roll, making it very innovative. The result of all that is a max cruise of over 300 knots, though it’s more common for pilots to take the balls slightly off the wall and cruise closer to 290.

The MU2 is also known for being rugged, with a high wing, beefy landing gear, and slow stall speed, making it right at home on grass, gravel, and generally short runways. The plane comes in a handful of versions, with fuselage length being the biggest difference between them. You’ll also find MU2s with a variety of propellers, with the most successful being the MT 5 blade propellers, which decrease noise and increase coolness.

The MU2 is relatively affordable, with a purchase price of around a million dollars, and it has relatively less expensive to maintain engines and a relatively low fuel burn of about 75 gallons an hour. However, the plane has many required inspections, though most are based on hours flown and not the calendar.

The combination of performance, affordability, and skill demands makes the MU2 a popular choice for those looking for a turbine twin. However, it’s important to note that the plane demands an equal amount of skill and respect to utilize it safely. The Mitsubishi MU2 is a unique and exciting airplane that offers a tremendous amount of performance for the cost.

Speed and Performance

The Mitsubishi MU2 is known for its exceptional speed, with a maximum cruise of over 300 knots. This is due to its small wings with the flaps retracted, which provide the same wing area as a Cessna 182. Despite this, the MU2 can stall at just 80 knots, thanks to its double-slotted Fowler flaps that run the full length of the wing.

The MU2’s innovative design also includes spoilers on top of the wings to control roll, which eliminates the need for ailerons. This design, combined with the powerful 750 horsepower engines, makes the MU2 one of the fastest aircraft in its class.

In addition to its speed, the MU2 is also known for its ruggedness, with a high wing, beefy landing gear, and slow stall speed that make it ideal for short runways and rough terrain. The aircraft comes in several versions, with fuselage length being the main difference between them.

Despite its impressive performance, the MU2 is relatively affordable compared to other turbine twins, with a purchase price of around one million dollars. The engines, while noisy, are also less expensive to maintain and overhaul than their Pratt & Whitney counterparts.

However, the MU2 does require regular inspections based on hours flown, and pilots must have the necessary skill and respect for the aircraft to fly it safely. The aircraft’s safety record has improved significantly in recent years, thanks to the implementation of an S-Fire in 2006, which has brought the accident rate in line with similar planes.

Overall, the Mitsubishi MU2 offers exceptional speed and performance for its cost, but it demands an equal amount of skill and respect from its pilots.

Design and Innovations

The Mitsubishi MU2 is a unique airplane that boasts a reputation for speed and innovation. One of the reasons why it’s so fast is due to its tiny wings, which have the same area as a Cessna 182. Surprisingly, the MU2 stalls at just 80 knots, thanks to its double-slotted Fowler flaps that run the full length of the wing. The lack of ailerons is compensated by spoilers on top of the wings, which control roll in an innovative way.

The MU2’s rugged design is also worth noting, with a high wing and beefy landing gear that make it suitable for short runways, grass, and gravel. The plane comes in several versions, with fuselage length being the main difference between them. Additionally, the MU2 has many required inspections, most of which are based on hours flown and not the calendar.

The Honeywell engines, while noisy, are less expensive to maintain and overhaul than their Pratt & Whitney counterparts. The MT 5-blade propellers are the most successful in reducing noise and increasing coolness. An average fuel burn of about 75 gallons per hour makes the MU2 relatively fuel-efficient compared to other planes in its class.

Despite its reputation for being unsafe, the MU2 is a safe airplane to fly as long as the pilot knows what they’re doing. In 2006, an S-Fire was implemented specifically for this plane, which significantly reduced the accident rate. The MU2 is one of the most affordable turbine twins you can buy, but it demands an equal amount of skill and respect to utilize it.

Overall, the Mitsubishi MU2 is a fast, rugged, and innovative airplane that offers a tremendous amount of performance for its cost.

Variations and Propellers

The Mitsubishi MU2 comes in different versions, with the fuselage length being the main difference between them. Additionally, the MU2 has a variety of propellers, with many pilots opting for quieter options. The most successful of these is the MT 5-blade propellers, which decrease noise and increase coolness. They are not too expensive, and you can find them on many MU2s.

The MU2 is known for being fast, and its unique design contributes to this. Despite having a pair of 750 horsepower engines, the MU2 has the same wing area as a Cessna 182. However, the double-slotted Fowler flaps are the full length of the wing, and there are no ailerons. Instead, spoilers on top of the wings control roll, making it a very innovative plane. The result of all this is a maximum cruise speed of over 300 knots, although pilots usually cruise closer to 290 knots.

The MU2 is also known for being rugged, with a high wing, beefy landing gear, and slow stall speed. This makes it right at home on grass, gravel, and generally short runways. Despite its reputation for being unsafe, the MU2 is a very affordable turbine twin, with a relatively low purchase price and fuel burn. The Honeywell engines are also less expensive to maintain and overhaul than their Pratt & Whitney counterparts.

However, the MU2 does require many inspections, most of which are based on hours flown rather than the calendar. The average fuel burn is about 75 gallons per hour, just a few gallons more than the PC-12 single.

In conclusion, the Mitsubishi MU2 offers a tremendous amount of performance for the cost, but it demands an equal amount of skill and respect to utilize it safely. Knowing what you’re doing is key to flying this plane safely.

Affordability and Maintenance

The Mitsubishi MU2 is a fast and affordable airplane that’s known for its ruggedness. The airplane is built in Japan and the USA, with Mooney contracted to build them in the USA for four years before going bankrupt. Mitsubishi then took over the production.

The airplane’s speed is due to its tiny wings with the flaps retracted, which provide the same wing area as a Cessna 182. The airplane’s double-slotted Fowler flaps are the full length of the wing, with no ailerons. Instead, spoilers on top of the wings control the roll.

The airplane’s max cruise is over 300 knots, with pilots cruising closer to 290. The airplane is also known for being rugged, with a high wing, beefy landing gear, and slow stall speed, making it right at home on grass, gravel, and generally short runways.

The airplane comes in several versions, with fuselage length being the biggest difference between them. You’ll also find MU2s with a variety of propellers, with the MT 5-blade propellers being the most successful in decreasing noise and increasing coolness.

The airplane’s relatively less expensive to maintain Honeywell engines, which are less noisy than their Pratt & Whitney counterparts, and relatively less fuel burn make the MU2 one of the most affordable turbine twins you can buy. The airplane has many required inspections based on hours flown, not the calendar.

The airplane’s short wings, at just 39 feet, are short enough to fit into a T-hangar. The airplane’s average fuel burn is about 75 gallons an hour, just a few gallons more than the PC-12 single.

Overall, the combination of relatively less expensive to maintain engines, relatively less fuel burn, and relatively lower purchase price makes the MU-2 one of the most affordable turbine twins you can buy.

Fuel Consumption

The Mitsubishi MU2 aircraft has a fuel burn rate of approximately 75 gallons per hour, which is only a few gallons more than the PC-12 single. The relatively less fuel burn and less expensive to maintain Honeywell engines make the MU-2 one of the most affordable turbine twins you can buy.

The MU2’s short wingspan of just 39 feet allows it to fit into a T-hangar. The required inspections for the MU2 are mostly based on hours flown rather than the calendar. The MT 5 blade propellers have been successful in decreasing noise and increasing coolness.

Overall, the combination of relatively less expensive to maintain engines and fuel-efficient performance makes the MU2 an attractive option for those looking for an affordable turbine twin. However, it’s important to note that the MU2 demands an equal amount of skill and respect to utilize it safely.

Safety Record

The Mitsubishi MU2 has a reputation for being unsafe, but that is not entirely true. The plane has been flying for over 40 years, and during that time, many accidents occurred. However, after extensive investigations, it was concluded that there was nothing wrong with the plane. The accidents were caused by human error, lack of training, and poor maintenance.

In 2006, an S-Fire was implemented specifically for the MU2, and the accident rate dropped in line with similar planes. This means that the MU2 is safe to fly as long as you know what you’re doing. It demands an equal amount of skill and respect to utilize its performance.

To ensure safety, the MU2 has many required inspections, most of which are based on hours flown and not the calendar. The Honeywell engines, while noisy, are less expensive to maintain and overhaul than their Pratt & Whitney counterparts. The plane’s short wingspan of just 39 feet allows it to fit into a T-hangar, making it more convenient for storage.

Overall, the MU2 is a safe plane to fly as long as you have the necessary skills and knowledge. It offers a tremendous amount of performance for its cost, making it one of the most affordable turbine twins you can buy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Mitsubishi MU2 is a unique and fast airplane that has a reputation for being unsafe, but that has been proven to be false. The MU2 is mainly built in Japan, with some models being built in the USA by Mooney before going bankrupt. The secret to the MU2’s speed is in its tiny wings with the flaps retracted, which gives it a max cruise of over 300 knots.

The MU2 is also known for being rugged, with a high wing, beefy landing gear, and slow stall speed, making it right at home on grass, gravel, and generally short runways. The plane comes in a handful of versions, with fuselage length being the biggest difference between them. The MT 5 blade propellers are the most successful in decreasing noise and increasing coolness.

The MU2 is relatively less expensive to maintain and overhaul than its Pratt Whitney counterparts, and its relatively lower purchase price makes it one of the most affordable turbine twins you can buy. However, it demands an equal amount of skill and respect to utilize it safely. The safety record of the MU2 was once a concern, but it was found that the accidents were due to a lack of knowledge and skill of the pilots.

In summary, the Mitsubishi MU2 offers a tremendous amount of performance for the cost, but it requires a skilled pilot to fly it safely.