Above the runway of the Zhuhai International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in southern China, the Chinese discover the silhouette of the C919, manufactured by the Chinese state manufacturer Comac. This aircraft displays its ambition: to compete with the European and American medium-haul market.
China hopes that this locally produced airliner will partly reduce its dependence on foreign manufacturers in the air – even if most of the systems and high-tech parts of this aircraft come from foreign industry. However, the aircraft has not yet received authorization to fly from European and American regulators. State-owned Comac says it has already received more than 800 orders for its C919.
According to Chinese media, the devices could be put into service during the first quarter of 2023.