China has succeeded in pressing into service an indigenously built jet airliner – the COMAC C919. Mark Broadbent details its design and development and ponders its prospects
The COMAC C919 – China’s first self-developed large passenger aircraft since the Shanghai Yun-10 – completed its initial commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing on May 28 this year, marking its official entry into service.
The flight, operated by China Eastern Airlines, took off as MU9191 at 1032hrs local time from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with 128 passengers on board.
A water salute greeted the aircraft on arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport two hours later.
“China’s civil aviation market has got the country’s self-developed trunk jetliner,” commented Wei Yingbiao, vice-president of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the C919’s developer.
According to Xinhua, the Chinese state media agency, “excitement and joy filled the cabin” of the C919 during the type’s maiden commercial flight. “Waving small Chinese national flags, passengers sang songs to celebrate this special occasion for them and for the country’s aviation industry,” it reported.
The C919’s operational debut is a momentous event for China. This shor…
