China — which has long had a goal of breaking into the Western-dominated aircraft market — on Friday tested its first large passenger jetliner. The C919,
China — which has long had a goal of breaking into the Western-dominated aircraft market — on Friday tested its first large passenger jetliner.
The C919, made by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., or Comac, took off from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.
The new plane is expected to compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing’s 737.
The lucrative narrow-body market accounts for more than 50 percent of the aircraft in service worldwide.
The C919 has been beset by delays: It was expected to first fly in 2014 and be delivered to buyers in 2016.
Comac officials blamed the delays on manufacturing problems, but they are looking forward to a brighter future.
The Associated Press reports:
« Bao Pengli, deputy director of Comac’s project management department, said Thursday the manufacturer planned to make two planes a year from now to 2019 to obtain proof of safe flight, before any mass production would be started.
