COMAC C919

China (2020)

Mounting delays have pushed the arrival of the touted COMAC C919 airliner from 2016 to 2018.

Detailing the development and operational history of the COMAC C919 Narrow-Body Passenger Airliner. Entry last updated on 10/6/2017. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

The government-owned aviation company of COMAC ("COMmercial Aircraft corporation of China") was founded as recently as 2008 and headquartered in Shanghai, China. Its primary focus has been the commercial airliner industry and its relatively contained stable is now represented by several in-development and future products led by the ARJ31 and followed by the C919. Future programs include the larger C929 and C939 offerings.

The C919 is billed as a twin-engine, narrow body, single-aisle passenger hauler for short-to-medium routes. Its passenger capacity ranges between 150 and 190, larger than that of the preceding short-range-minded ARJ21 with its 70 to 105 volume. The C919 stands as the largest indigenous Chinese airliner program since the 1980s which only produced three of the ultimately abandoned, four-engined Shanghai Y-10 aircraft. The C919 is in the same class as the American Boeing 737 and French Airbus A320 frames - two aircraft which currently own a large portion of the short-to-medium market class.

While still undergoing development as of this writing (January 2014), it is expected that the aircraft will receive its maiden flight sometime in late 2015. It has achieved type certification in China (2010) but has yet to earn its certification for operating in Western airspaces - which could severely hamper its export value. The manufacture process of future C919s will be a joint effort split between various Chinese manufacturers including Hongdu and engines will be delivered from CFM International of France. Avionics will also be imported with a possible locally-developed suite to come in the near future. COMAC intends to produce a singular standard airframe and modify this for the various envisioned roles to include general two-class passenger hauling, commercial freighter and VIP/business jet.

The standard C919 will feature a two-class seating configuration for up to 156 passengers and its crew of two. Overall length is 127 feet, 7 inches with a wingspan of 117 feet, 5 inches and an overall height of 39 feet. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is rated at around 170,000lbs with a range out to 4,050 kilometers (another proposed model could reach as far as 5,550km). The CFM international "LEAP-1C" turbofan engines will provide between 25,000- and 30,000-lbs of thrust allowing the airframe to cruise at speeds of 520 miles per hour with a service ceiling in the 39,500 foot range.

To date, some 400 of the type have been ordered across sixteen customers which include Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airliners, Hainan Airlines, Joy Air and Sichuan Airlines. The largest customer (as it currently stands) is CCB Financial Leasing with 50 aircraft on order.

Barring delays, the aircraft line is slated for official introduction in 2016. A May 2015 update stated that the C919 would be readied for service entry in 2019-2020.

November 2015 - The first C919 was rolled out of final assembly in Shanghai for public viewing. Ground testing is set to begin with a first flight planned for 2016.

April 2016 - It was announced that deliveries of the C919 would commence in 2019.

September 2016 - Progress continues on static testing of the C919 in preparation for a first-flight.

December 2016 - The C919 prototype began taxiing tests. A first-flight is scheduled for mid-2017.

March 2017 - It was announced that the C919 design configuration had been finalized. A first-flight is scheduled for April 2017.

April 2017 - A COMAC C919 completed a first-flight on May 5th, 2017.

October 2017 - There are currently 27 customers with orders committed to the C919. Four Chinese government branches have committed to seventy airplanes with an option for sixty more.

Our Data Modules allow for quick visual reference when comparing a single entry against contemporary designs. Areas covered include general ratings, speed assessments, and relative ranges based on distances between major cities.

Image of collection of graph types

Relative Maximum Speed Rating

Hi: 750mph

Lo: 375mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (559mph).

Graph average of 562.5 miles-per-hour.

Relative Operational Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Graph showcases the COMAC C919 Mixed's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.

Aviation Era Impact

Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.

Unit Production Comparison

Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units

Military Market HI**: 36,183 units

* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.

** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.

Altitude Visualization

Compare this entry against other aircraft using our Comparison Tool

Supported Mission Types:

Air-to-Air

Interception

Unmanned

Ground Attack

Close-Air Support

Training

Anti-Submarine

Anti-Ship

Airborne Early Warning

MEDEVAC

Electronic Warfare

Maritime/Navy

Aerial Tanker

Utility/Transport

Passenger Industry

VIP Travel

Business Travel

Search/Rescue

Recon/Scouting

Special Forces

X-Plane/Development

National Origin: China

Service Year: 2020

Classification Type: Narrow-Body Passenger Airliner

Manufacturer(s): Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC) - China

Production Units: 1

Global Operators:
China (assumed)

Structural - Crew, Dimensions, and Weights:
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the COMAC C919 Mixed model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.

Operational
CREW

Personnel
2

Dimension
LENGTH

Feet
127.62 ft

Meters
38.9 m

Dimension
WIDTH

Feet
117.45 ft

Meters
35.8 m

Dimension
HEIGHT

Feet
39.21 ft

Meters
11.95 m

Weight
LOADED

Pounds
170,417 lb

Kilograms
77,300 kg

Installed Power - Standard Day Performance:
2 x CFM International LEAP-1C turbofan engines developing 25,000-to-30,000lb of thrust each.

Performance
SPEED

Miles-per-Hour
559 mph

Kilometers-per-Hour
900 kph

Knots
486 kts

Performance
RANGE

Miles
2,485 mi

Kilometers
4,000 km

Nautical Miles
2,160 nm

Performance
CEILING

Feet
39,698 ft

Meters
12,100 m

Miles
7.52 mi

Armament - Hardpoints (0):

None.

Variants: Series Model Variants
• C919 - Base Series Designation
• C919 "Mixed" - 2-class seating for 156; 4,075km operational range.
• C919 "All ECO" - Single-class seating for 168; 5,555km operational range.
• C919 "High Density" - Single-class seating for 174