1st home-grown jumbo jet to take maiden flight in 2014

China's first large passenger aircraft is set to take to the air for the first time in 2014 and be through with the necessary tests in 2016, according to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd (COMAC), sources reported. Chen Jin, marketing director of COMAC, said that the first China-made jumbo jet will be named the C919. The C919 will be equipped with 168 economy-class seats and is more fuel-efficient than the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A340. COMAC, which is 26% owned by state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), aims to put out 150 jumbo jets annually within 20 years. The company expects that the home-grown large passenger aircraft will be strong competition for Airbus and Boeing in the international market.

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