Assembly of China's first large aircraft C919 almost complete

Assembly of the first large passenger aircraft built by a Chinese company is nearly complete.

Photo taken on Sept. 19, 2014 shows the fuselage of C919 airliner in the assembly base of the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, east China. China's first C919 airliner started structural assembly on Friday here. The first C919 airliner is expected to make a maiden flight by the end of 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] 

The C919 is being developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China.

COMAC is the same company behind the ARJ21, which received its official certification from China's civil aviation authorities a week ago.

The C919 has been outfitted with the latest in aviation technology.

Zhou Guirong is the deputy chief designer of the C919.

"In cloudy or smoggy weather, pilots vision of the runway may be obscured. But with the sensors we've installed in the aircraft, pilots will be able to get an infrared view of what's happening outside during takeoff and landing. The C919 is among the first large commercial jets to have the new technology installed."

The C919 can fly up to 5-thousand kilometers, and can accommodate up to 160 passengers. Zhou Guirong says the new jetliner is also more efficient than a lot of planes currently in the sky.

"Our engine layout reduces fuel consumption by around 15-percent compared with its counterparts, improving its overall operational efficiency by 10-percent. The C919 is very compeditive when it comes to safety, economics, comfort and environmental friendliness."

So far, COMAC has received over 400 orders for the C919.

The aircraft is expected to make its maiden flight before the end of this year.

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