China’s Homegrown Jumbo Passenger Jet C919 Takes to the Sky

China sent its homegrown large passenger plane C919 into sky on May 5. Thousands of people witnessed the historic moment of the aircraft’s debut.

The flight makes China the fourth jumbo jet producer after the United States, Europe and Russia. It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the C919. The C919 project was launched in 2006. Two years later, COMAC was established in Shanghai, considering the city’s technology advantage in the aviation industry. The C919 is also the joint outcome of global cooperation and global talent. Through consistently researching mature aircraft models, adopting scientific methods, and utilizing the resources of the industry, and technology and talent from all over the world, COMAC managed to create its own passenger jets, said He Dongfeng, vice-chairman and president of COMAC.

Before the flight, the C919 has passed a series of strict tests since rolling off the assembly line in November 2015. To date, COMAC has received 570 orders from 23 clients for the C919.