*http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/index.html
Japan to provide funds for aircraft production ** *The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry says it has decided to spend public funds to help develop a new made-in-Japan passenger aircraft. Major Japanese private companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries want to develop a medium-range aircraft that can carry between 70 and 90 passengers. The planes would be used for domestic flights. The ministry will provide 40 billion yen, or about 330 million US dollars, to support the project between fiscal 2008 and 2011. The expenditure is expected to cover about one-third of the research-and-development cost. The ministry wants to see the new aircraft in service by 2012. Last December, the last of Japan's domestically produced YS-11 propeller planes was finally grounded after nearly 40 years in service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
