Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2 is underpowered, struggles to takeoff at high altitudes

Bug Reporting Hub Aircraft & Systems
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1

ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Description of the issue: The MU-2 is unable to reach the necessary speed for takeoff even with 7500ft of runway at an altitude of 7000ft. (I tried multiple airports and these numbers don’t change much even at lower altitudes.)

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

Every time

REPRODUCTION STEPS

Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:

  1. Choose MU-2, either at cold and dark or ready to fly

  2. I chose Paro, Lukla, and then Seatac airports, but you can choose any at various altitudes/runway lengths

  3. Attempt a normal takeoff.

YOUR SETTINGS

What peripherals are you using, if relevant:

[PC Only] No

[PC, MSFS 2020 Only] Are you using DX11 or DX12?

[PC Only] What GPU (Graphics Card) do you use?

[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share?

MEDIA

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Beginning of a 7500 ft runway at 30 knots, full power

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I’ve reached the end of the runway and have only made it to 85 knots

2

According to this real MU-2 manual (which is for a model with slightly less power than the MSFS version supposedly has), at 7,000’ field elevation, standard ISA temp, no headwind, and max takeoff weight, takeoff distance to 50’ should be approximately 3,300’. The takeoff performance chart is on page 29.

The MSFS MU-2 was similarly underpowered in 2020, so it’s not a new problem.

4

ISSUE DESCRIPTION

The MU-2 takes quite a bit of runway to properly takeoff regardless of altitude. It didn’t feel right to me, and when I looked up real videos of takeoffs, I found that the real-life plane requires much less runway to build up speed. For instance, it’s impossible for me to take off from Johnson’s Creek in both 2020 and 2024, but a video on YouTube shows the same type of plane taking off with time to spare.

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

Every time

REPRODUCTION STEPS

Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:

  1. Load into either 2020 or 2024.

  2. Keep the aircraft light (don’t overload fuel or passengers)

  3. Attempt a short field takeoff or as close to one as you can. Any airport will do and elevation/altitude doesn’t make a difference. Neither do flap positions or trim. In other words, I cannot replicate real-like takeoffs because the simulated engines are underpowered.

YOUR SETTINGS

If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.

What peripherals are you using, if relevant:

[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it?

No

[PC, MSFS 2020 Only] Are you using DX11 or DX12?

[PC Only] What GPU (Graphics Card) do you use?

I’m on my cellphone but I can check later if this ends up being relevant somehow.

[PC Only] What other relevant PC specs can you share?

MEDIA

below is a video of a MU-2’s landing and takeoff at Johnson’s Creek. The simulated version of the aircraft is unable to takeoff at this airport whereas the real-life plane does so with time to spare.

5

Here’s an MU-2 manual with performance charts. I’ve tested it in the sim, and it can’t match the published figures. https://www.mu-2aopa.com/Documents/SalesLit/mu2p.pdf