China's Largest Jet Makes Successful First Flight
For several decades, Airbus and Boeing have owned the mid-range, narrow-body jet market. Canada's Bombardier C Series has put a small dent in the market recently, but an even newer player is emerging from the world's fastest-growing technological superpower.
At 2:01pm on Friday, from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, the COMAC C919 took to the skies for its maiden flight, with a crew of five aboard, and spent an hour and 19 minutes in flight.
COMAC stands for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. COMAC's C919 is roughly the size of the world's two most popular airliners: the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737-800. It holds 168 passengers, putting its cabin capacity at about the same size as well. China and its ASEAN counterparts account for the fastest-growing region for aviation in the world, and Boeing estimates that China will need over 5,100 C919-sized planes over the next 20 years.
570 orders have been received for the C919, a product that the Chinese government has dreamed of producing for over 50 years. To China, the C919 isn't about just building and selling airplanes. It represents an agent of change, and signals the maturity of the country's technological and manufacturing capacity on the world's stage.
Airbus has a final assembly line in Tianjin, China, for its A320 series planes. And if you know your planes, you'll notice the C919 has a lot of design similarities to the A320, with a wing design that resembles Airbus' newer A350.
As with jets built by its competitors, the C919 consists of several parts from other countries. Its engines are made by CFM, and they're a derivative of the same engines built for the new Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX. The C919 engine is called the LEAP 1-C. The C stands for COMAC. Its auxiliary power unit, flight control systems, wheels, brakes and navigation systems are provided by US-based Honeywell Aerospace. Its cockpit displays are made by Ireland-based Eaton Aerospace. Its cockpit, cabin interior and fixtures are made by FACC, of Austria. Although early C919s will have LEAP engines, China is reportedly developing its own engine for the jet, but those aren't due for a few more years.
The flight was viewed around the world, thanks to live-streaming. And for the first time ever, viewers were given a look inside the flight deck. There was also a camera mounted to the bottom of the plane, which gave a view of the nose gear. These views came as a particular surprise, being that being that COMAC is a state-owned entity of China's communist government.
The C919 development began in February, 2007, and was preceded by a smaller jet: the COMAC ARJ21. The ARJ21 first flew in 2008, and finally entered service in 2016, with Chengdu Airlines. Chengdu has two ARJ21s in its fleet, while only six have been built. The other four were built as test aircraft, and will likely never fly with airlines.
The C919 has had its own developmental issues. The plane that flew on Friday was first rolled out 18 months ago, in November, 2015. By comparison, Airbus and Boeing usually fly their prototypes within 4-6 weeks of their rollout. By the time the C919 enters service, it will be over two years delayed. China Eastern is expected to be the first airline to operate it.
To actually fly on a Chinese-built jet, you'll likely have to go to China. Most of its 570 orders are from airlines based in China, along with 7 for a German startup called PuRen, and 10 for Thailand's City Airways.
All photos except for the screenshot are sourced from Getty Images
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.