Page 33 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

JETS FEATURE

MITSUBISHI SUSPENDS TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

M100

How one man’s work of art opened a military base

By Pieter Cronjé

The culmination of Tiro’s travel to Russia – the handover of his painting of the Tu-95 to the Museum in
Ryazan. Father Konstantin who played a pivotal role in arranging the handover is in the black cloak

was there not just as an individual artist, but to go ahead. I knew the aircraft well, but

as a proud South African, former Air Force did additional research and drawings

rt can open doors. A painting by member and member of the renowned before starting on the canvas in January

The SpaceJet has been under develop- about ¥130 billion. In the year before that, ASouth African aviati on arti st, Tiro American Society of Aviation Artists (ASAA).” 2019. My plan was to donate the painting

ment since 2008 by Mitsubishi Aircraft, the loss was ¥85.2 billion. Vorster (ASAA), opened significant and mem- Tiro, former, decorated flight engineer on to Russia in the hope of seeing the Tu-95

itsubishi Heavy Industries has which is majority-owned by MHI. The type The company has been spending on build- orable doors in Russia: The Ryazan Air Base the Alouette and Shackleton, veteran of ten close-up and meeting its crew. Of course I

Msuspended development of was at first called the MRJ. ing additional prototypes and flight testing. and Museum for Long Range Aviation. operational tours of duty, is an internation- would give all my paintbrushes for a flight

the M100 version of the SpaceJet regional The MRJ90 - seating 88 in an all-economy MHI has closed the purchase of Bom- His gift of a painting of the iconic Russian ally recognised aviation artist. As a Life in one of them!” he quips.

jet as one measure in stanching the cash arrangement - became the M90 in June bardier’s CRJ programme, not including its Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO code name: “Bear”) Member of ASAA, he may use this abbrevi- It was a painstaking labour of love. For

bleed from the programme. 2019, when the former 76-seat MRJ70 was production facilities. gave him access to an inner aviation sanc- ation behind his name on paintings. https:// aviation artists, lovers and collectors every

SpaceJet losses drove the whole MHI dropped and replaced by the 84-seat M100. Earlier the company said it would in tum, not seen by Western civilians or mili- www.asaa-avart.net/cb-profile/ military, technical and historical detail of

industrial group into loss for the fiscal In its results announcement, MHI seemed fiscal 2020 write down ¥50-70 billion of tary before. He received a hero’s welcome. tirovorster. He has also received recogni- the aircraft must be one hundred percent

year beginning April 2019, according to its to hint at the possibility of deliberately goodwill, assets and liabilities acquired in Back in South Africa where the SA Air tion from the SAAF http://www.pilotspost. correct even before the background, natu-

annual report. stretching out the program. As one of the transaction. The CRJ programme will Force, the second oldest in the world, com/arn0000397 ral, aerial or battle setting comes into play.

MHI expects in fiscal 2020, further Space- its responses to the COVID-19, it listed become part of a SpaceJet marketing and celebrates its centenary, Tiro ticked off a “During my art exhibition at Air Force While Tiro was painting, planning started

Jet losses will offset profits from all its “continuing detailed review of the SpaceJet support unit. major bucket list item. A two-year dream Base Ysterplaat in Cape Town in 2013, I met for the trip to Russia and the handover.

other operations, which range from space schedule in view of the severe market con- The interruption of flight testing at Moses had become reality. The Russian corner in Elina Komarova-Tagar, a medical doctor Efforts to gain the support of the South

launch to nuclear power to rail systems. ditions facing commercial aviation and test Lake came just as the programme’s crucial his house in Van Riebeeckshof, Cape Town, involved with reconciliation work with vet- African Government through the Depart-

Deliveries of the first SpaceJet version - the flight-related setbacks.” sixth prototype became available. is displayed with gifts he brought back from erans and member of the Russian Club in ments of Defence, International Relations,

M90- will begin in fiscal 2021 or later, the It did not detail those setbacks, but the This aircraft conforms to the new, cer- Russia and will forever remind him of the Cape Town. I told her of my love of Russian and Arts and Culture came to naught, even

company said, repeating the wording it used pandemic has interrupted work at the pro- tifiable design - the result of changes that adventure. aircraft. We became close friends. She was though the request was not for money, just

three months ago when announcing the gramme’s flight-testing base at Moses Lake, Mitsubishi Aircraft realised in 2016 was Tiro is drawn to classic aircraft, especially involved in the journey of my next three endorsement. The South African Embassy

latest delay to the protracted programme. Washington. necessary. Mitsubishi Aircraft has expected military, but also civilian. His works include paintings of an Augusta Westland Lynx in Moscow was immediately supportive.

MHI chief executive Seiji Izumisawa an- Another response to the pandemic will this aircraft to carry most of the burden of American, British, German, South African, helicopter, a PV Ventura from World War 2 Tiro eventually joined a tour group

nounced suspension of work on the M100 be “setting an appropriate budget consid- remaining flight testing, with two more air- French and Russian subjects. and a C 130 parachuting special forces over to Russia and simply paid his own way.

during a briefing on the results. Plans for ering challenging financial headwinds for craft of the same design to be used mainly “This oil painting, entitled ‘The Mighty Bear Langebaan in South Africa. “When I boarded the aircraft it needed

the version will be reconsidered during the MHI Group.” for ground testing. on Patrol’ has realised one of my greatest She introduced me to her Russian network. some very smooth talking to get the care-

suspension, he said. The company expects to lose ¥110-130 These and the first five prototypes are ambitions in life. To see and touch the aircraft She brought Father Konstantin Tatarinchev fully wrapped panting accepted as cabin

Intended for the North American market, billion ($1-1.2 billion) on the SpaceJet in fis- all built to the M90 standard. The type and the best of Russian military innovation to my house. A former Tupolev Tu-22 pilot luggage. One misstep on the boarding steps

the M100 was designed to offer an optimal cal 2020. Since the programme will be earn- is powered by the Pratt & Whitney and design in long-range bombers, to speak himself, he became a priest and today heads could have scuttled the whole mission. As I

combination of range and seating within ing little or no revenue, that figure should PW1200G engine. Q to high-ranking Russian Air Force officers up the worldwide outreach of the Russian sat down, there were no firm arrangements

the weight limits that big U.S. airlines’ pilot be close to the cost of development for the who have flown and still fly them, their warm Orthodox Church for military veterans. in place for the handover.”

contracts impose on aircraft operated by year. In fiscal 2019, the loss was ¥263.3 bil- Article courtesy: reception and appreciation of my art was an “Two years ago the dream to paint the It was to be Father Konstantin

outsource carriers. lion, but that included impairment losses of https://aviationweek.com/ absolute highlight in my career as an artist. I Tu-95 started. In December 2018 I decided and dr Komarova-Tagar who To page 34

World Airnews | June 2020 World Airnews | June 2020
— 32 — — 33 —