Originally Posted by
Killer51883
has the mitsubishi jet been built yet? Trying to get an all carbon fiber airplane isn't the easiest thing to do (just ask boeing).
The MRJ will only be 15% composite. Mitsubishi had a partnership with Boeing on this. They separated ways in 2008, and the MRJ went to an aluminum construction base.
Boeing is the only manufacturer trying to build in composite on a large scale currently (A corporate jet manufacturer built and test flew a composite barrel, but then the economy went south, so they shelved it for now - I think this was Raytheon). I'm sure Airbus is watching closely, but even their A350 design is a metal barrel, though I don't doubt that Airbus is tinkering in a back room on the idea, and could ramp up production if Boeing's barrels are successful in normal operations.