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COMAC C919 Completes Successful Maiden Flight

International Association for Sustainable Aviation

Latest CFM engines for improved fuel efficiency

Shanghai, May 5, 2017: Today, the first C919 aircraft of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) completed a 79- minute first flight, marking the launch of the certification flight test program for the all new Chinese 150-passenger category aircraft. The new jet took-off from Shanghai’s busy Pudong International Airport. Seating up to 174 passengers in a high density configuration, the narrow-body jetliner has about the size of an Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737. Depending on the payload, the C919 aircraft offers a range up to 5,555 kilometers.

 

The independently in China developed single aisle commercial airliner is powered by CFM International’s advanced LEAP-1C integrated propulsion system. The LEAP-1C engine features some of the industry’s most advanced technologies, including 3-D woven carbon fiber composite fan blades and fan case; a unique debris rejection system; 4th generation three dimensional aerodynamic designs; the Twin-Annular, Pre-Swirl (TAPS) combustor featuring additively manufactured fuel nozzles; ceramics matrix composite shrouds in the high-pressure turbine; and titanium aluminide (Ti-Al) blades in the low-pressure turbine. According to CFMI, the engines performed flawlessly.

“This is a great day for all of us,” said He Dongfeng, president of COMAC. “We are very happy with the LEAP-1C engine and have been pleased to work with CFM on this program.  The engines performed beautifully during today’s flight and we believe they will bring our customers the levels of fuel efficiency and reliability they will require in their daily operations.”

For the development and the production of the C919, COMAC is using leading Western suppliers like Honeywell, Parker Aerospace, UTC Aerospace Systems and Arconic,. The landing gear systems is provided by Liebherr-Aerospace.

COMAC plans to use a total of six prototypes for its flight test program. First deliveries are presently scheduled for 2018. A total of 570 orders have been obtained from 23 customers. 

COMAC C919 taking-off from Pudong International Airport

Sources: COMAC, CFMI