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
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.