Originally published on January 13, 2014
China has unveiled C919 'Iron Bird', its first domestically produced regional passenger jet able to compete with world giants Airbus and Boeing and aimed at reducing China's reliance on the two companies' aircrafts.
According to reports, C919 'Iron Bird', made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), looks almost identical to Airbus A320, but unlike the European made Airbus, the 'Iron Bird' is made in China.
"This is a really exciting event for China," Jack Lee, a Comac executive, told Sky News. This is the first time in China's history that we have manufactured (passenger) aircraft by Chinese people."
Iron Bird has almost the same wingspan as Airbus and almost the same length. Its fuselage is 3.96 metres wide and 4.16 metres high. The normal range is 4075 km, but can up to a maximum of 5555 km. Sky News reported that it seats a total of 190 passengers.
Differently from Airbus A320, or Boeing 737, C919 is expected to be from 12 to 15% more fuel efficient.
In order to fly, Comac will need to get approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the Chinese equivalent, the CAAC.
According to Lee, the new aircraft will be as safe as any other aircraft, Boeing or Airbus, in the sky. "The safety level is the same as other aircraft that fly in the sky," he said. "So very safe."
Comac initially gave itself six years, until 2014, to build the aircraft and sell it. Now the deadline has been pushed to 2015 and company staff have been asked to work longer hours to ensure it will be ready on time, Sky News reported.
According to reports, there is no published price for the C919 yet, but it is speculated to cost around $75 million USD, which is $10m less than both the 737 and A320.
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