Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

5 Mar, 2013

China’s Home-Grown C919 Jumbo Jet Plans Global Takeoff in 2014

by Xie Weiqun and Zhao Zhanhui, People's Daily

Beijing, March 04, 2013 – China’s C919 jumbo jet is expected to begin its maiden flight in 2014, said Wu Guanghui, vice president of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and chief designer of the C919.

Wu, also the member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said this on Monday. “This is China’s first independently developed modern jumbo jet,”Wu said, “The jet has received 380 orders.”

A model of the C919 commercial airliner made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China on display at the Le Bourget airshow on June 20, 2011.

To reduce the technical risks brought by new materials and new technology, the COMAC began trial production of the seven sections of the aircraft in 2010; it produced 3,724 parts and implemented more than 10 new techniques, according to Wu.

Since 2011 it has finished dozens of wind tunnel tests and more than 9,000 air calorimeter tests to ensure the feasibility and reliability.

This year marks a crucial year for C919 project. The COMAC will complete works including detail design evaluation and over 40 wind tunnel tests and structural tests, said Wu.

Edited and translated by Liang Jun, People’s Daily Online
Read the Chinese version: 大飞机C919力争明年首飞