Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond

The Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond was a light business jet designed and produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a jet-powered companion to its successful MU-2 turboprop. Formally launched in 1977, the prototype first flew on 29 August 1978, and certification under United States transport aircraft rules was delayed by tighter Federal Aviation Administration requirements after the American Airlines Flight 191 crash, finally arriving on 6 November 1981. Production Diamonds were assembled at the former Mooney plant at San Angelo, Texas, from kits supplied from Japan, with deliveries starting in July 1982. The Diamond 1A brought Pratt and Whitney Canada JT15D-4D turbofan engines and a higher maximum takeoff weight, and the Diamond II followed with uprated JT15D-5 engines and thrust reversers. Mitsubishi built 97 in all before selling the Diamond II design and 64 kits to Beechcraft in December 1985, which continued it as the Beechjet 400, later renamed the Hawker 400.