TOKYO — The first made-in-Japan passenger jet in four decades will reach a development milestone later this week.

A “rolling out” ceremony in Nagoya, central Japan, will tomorrow unveil the long-awaited Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) — a fuel-efficient lightweight carbon-fibre-composite passenger plane.

Major Japanese machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has said the MRJ90 and MRJ70 will be able to seat 88 and 76 people, respectively, while the planned MRJ100X will have 100 seats.

The plane is billed as fuel-efficient, quiet and green, with a comfortable cabin of relatively wide seats and high ceilings.

The first flight is planned for the second quarter of next year, with test flights to follow totalling 2,500 hours. The first deliveries are set for 2017.

The MRJ is Japan’s first nationallyfunded, domestically manufactured passenger aircraft since the YS-11 — a turboprop plane that was discontinued in 1973.

Mitsubishi and other Japanese manufacturers are long-time partners with United States plane maker Boeing and have made main components for the 787 Dreamliner.

However, having a homegrown jet is a source of pride in Japan, whose prized aircraft creations include the wartime Zero fighter.

Auto maker Honda Motor Co is also planning its own plane — the HondaJet — which is its first foray into aeronautics, although it is much smaller, being able to seat only several passengers.

The MRJ has received 191 orders, from All Nippon Airways, Trans State Holdings, SkyWest, Air Mandalay and Eastern Air Line, with 184 additional purchase options. Japan Airlines announced in August it would buy 32 of the jets, although the final deal has not been inked. AP