China’s entrant into the large commercial plane field is about to take off for the first time. Teams of technical experts have cleared the C-919 for its first test flight, to be followed by more extensive flight testing.
The plane is intended as a direct competitor to the A320neo and 737 MAX lines from Airbus and Boeing. The basic model is a 168-seat narrow-body, and COMAC plans both stretched and shrunk versions.
The plane’s maker, Chinese Commercial Aircraft Company, known as COMAC, hopes to be able to begin deliveries by late 2018. The plane was originally to have been ready several years ago, but the program had a number of delays.
Although there are 500 orders booked, there have been doubts about the commercial viability of the product. These stem from questions whether airlines outside China will adopt the product (all but a handful of orders are from Chinese airlines and leasing companies) and whether it can deliver promised low-cost operation to the budget airlines it would like to sell to. Ryanair was an early investor in the project, but has ordered no planes.
