1.
TV HANGER MU-2 AIRCRAFT BEING ASSEMBLED.
0.05

2.
SV MEN WORKING ON ENGINES OF PLANE (2 SHOTS)
0.11

3.
CU ENGINES.
0.14

4.
CV INT COCKPIT SHOWING INSTRUMENT PANEL.
0.18

5.
CU EXT COCKPIT.
0.19

6.
SV MU-2 AIRCRAFT WHEELED OUT ONTO TARMAC.
0.23

7.
GV THE YS-11 ASSEMBLY PLANT.
0.27

8.
GG YS-11 PLANE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
0.33

9.
GV WINGS BEING ATTACHED TO FUSELAGE (3 SHOTS)
0.43

10.
GV NOSE OF AIRCRAFT
0.45

11.
SV MEN WORKING ON ENGINE.
0.49

12.
GV TAIL PLANE OF AIRCRAFT
0.51

13.
MV INT COCKPIT
0.53

14.
CU MAN WORKING ON INSTRUMENTS IN COCKPIT (2 SHOTS)
1.01

15.
GV & SV FINISHED YS-11 IN HANGER.
1.06

16.
CU PROPELLORS.
1.08

17.
GV PAN YS-11
1.17

18.
SV INTERIOR OF CABIN (2 SHOTS)
1.21

19.
GV EXT YS-11 TAKES OFF ON TEST
1.45



Initials RM/S/CR/JM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: JAPAN'S STEADY RECOVERY OF ITS POSITION AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING MANUFACTURERS OF AIRCRAFT WAS HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE PAST YEAR BY ITS PRODUCTION OF ASIA'S FIRST TURBOPROP AIRLINER, THE YS-11, AND WORK ON A TURBOPROP EXECUTIVE AIRCRAFT, THE MU-2.

THE FIRST PRODUCTION MODELS OF THE YS-11 TURBOPROP AIRLINER BEGAN ROLLING OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINES AT KOMAKI NEAR NAGOYA AND ABOUT 150 MILES SOUTH WEST OF TOKYO, IN SEPTEMBER. A SHORT AND MEDIUM HAUL AIRLINER, THE YS-11 FEATURES EXTREMELY SHORT TAKE-OFF AND LANDING.

THE YS-11 HAS A PASSENGER CAPACITY OF 60. IT IS POWERED BY BRITISH ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINES, AND IS HIGHLY ECONOMICAL IN OPERATION.

THE TURBOPROP MU-2 EXECUTIVE 'PLANE IS EXPECTED TO GO INTO LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION SOON. IN ADDITION, JAPAN IS PRODUCING ABOUT A DOZEN OTHER TYPES OF AIRCRAFT OF ITS OWN DESIGN. JAPANESE MANUFACTURERS ARE ALSO PRODUCING 24 TYPES OF AIRCRAFT UNDER FOREIGN LICENCES.

JAPAN'S FIRST HOME-MADE 'PLANE WAS BUILT IN 1911. BETWEEN THEN AND THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR JAPAN PRODUCED MORE THAN 100,000 AIRCRAFT, AND 150,000 AIRCRAFT ENGINES.