Delivery delay of China's Comac C919 does not signify technological inferiority

China's first home-made big passenger plane rolled off line

China's first domestically produced commercial jet, the Comac C919, is progressing nicely, and its delivery delay has nothing to do with its technological capability, said Hong Jiansheng, deputy chief engineer of Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group on Sunday, according to China News Service.

While discussing the C919’s delivery delay on March 13, Hong, also a NPC deputy, told reporters that the jet’s development has been making steady progress since November of last year, and it is now nearly ready for test flights.

Previously, foreign media reported that the delivery of the C919 could be as late as 2020, insinuating that it would be a technologically inferior product because it won’t be available until after the improved Boeing 737 and A320 are released, some time in the next two years.

Compared to its Boeing competitors, the nose of the C919 is more advanced, explained Hong. Its windshield and cockpit layout are in line with market demand, and all the most advanced equipment is being used. "Core technology cannot be bought with money; we must rely on ourselves,” added Hong.

China's first home-made big passenger plane rolled off line

Development of the C919 began in 2008. It is China's first domestically developed civil trunk line aircraft that is produced in accordance with the latest international standards. Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group designed and manufactured the aircraft’s special nose.

In November of last year, the first C919 models rolled off the assembly line in Shanghai and began ground tests. The C919 has already achieved early commercial success. As of November 2015, a total of 517 orders had been received.

China's first home-made big passenger plane rolled off line