C919: Taking “Made in China” to New Heights
After 10 years of research and development, China’s ”homegrown” large jet aeroplane, the C919, has taken wing and completed its maiden flight successfully, meaning that its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC,中國商用飛機公司), is now on course to create some turbulence in the global high-capacity passenger aircraft market. After the first flight, the aircraft will have to complete extensive ground and flight testing, and it may be several years before the aircraft is officially cleared for service. If all this is new to you, you may be wondering: how did the name “C919” come about?What innovations have been adopted during its production?What tests were performed during its maiden flight?Rest easy, all will be answered below.