The long-awaited first flight of the C919 narrowbody airliner on May 5 restored some of the credibility lost in recent years by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac). The state-controlled airframer had promised to achieve a first flight in 2014, with service entry supposed to follow in 2016, and have never given an adequate explanation for a series of setbacks for the program since it’s launch back in 2008.
The C919, which will be offered to airlines in versions seating between 150 and 168 passengers, is one of three development programs being pursued by China’s leading aerospace group. Comac also has overall responsibility for Xi’an’s Y-20 military transport and the new AG-600 amphibian. It’s first flight from Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport ended an 18-month wait since the C919 was rolled out in November 2015.
Although the C919 is largely a Chinese indigenous design, a host of Western suppliers have contributed major components, including CFM International Leap-1C engines, Liebherr landing gear and Honeywell flight control and navigation systems.
Despite two slipped first delivery dates, Comac has managed to secure firm orders and options for 570 C919s from 23 companies. China Eastern Airlines will serve as the type’s launch customer, and lessor GE Capital Aviation Services and Thailand’s City Airways remain the only export customers so far.
The C919 can seat 168 passengers in a single-class, economy configuration, 158 across two classes or 174 in a high-density configuration. The standard range covers 2,200 nautical miles, while an extended range version will allow for 3,000 nautical miles. The aircraft’s list price amounts to some $50 million, about half the price Airbus quotes for the A320.
Honeywell contributes the purpose-built HGT750(C) auxiliary power unit, as well as the flight control electronics system, the navigation system, wheels and brakes. The flight control system has been developed through a joint venture with Avic’s Xi’an Flight Automatic Control Research Institute (AVIC FACRI) known as HonFei, and the wheels and brakes are a partnership with Hunan Boyun New Materials. Avic is part of the Comac group.
