Economy

China to complete design of jumbo jet by year end

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-13 02:18

BEIJING - China would complete the draft design of its first independently-developed jumbo jet by the end of the year, said its chief designer here Friday.

The home-made jumbo jet, known as the C919, is expected to be put into production next year and enter service in 2016, said Wu Guanghui, chief designer and deputy general manager of the Commercial Aviation Corporation (COMAC), manufacturer of the jet.

According to Wu, the C919 would test fly in 2014 in several regions with different temperatures.

The COMAC would develop a 168-seat model and a 156-seat model of the jet, with more models to be developed in future, so as to meet the demand of different carriers, he said.

"I believe we can sell more than 2,000 jets," Wu said.

"Our jets will be more comfortable, less oil-consuming and more economical than their competitors in the aviation market," he said.

Wu, as a political advisor, is in Beijing to attend the annual session of the country's top political advisory body, or the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.