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Life-size C919 model to be showed next week

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-02 15:22

BEIJING - A life-size model of China's first homegrown large passenger jet, the C919, will be displayed at the Scientific Achievements Expo, running from March 7 to 14 in Beijing.

The model, which comprises of the jet's cockpit and front part of the passenger cabin, is the same size as an actual C919 plane -- 23 meters long, 10 meters wide and 5.6 meters high, said Wu Guanghui, vice general manager of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the jet's builder.

Wu, a member of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks before the annual session of the country's top political advisory body, which is scheduled to open Thursday.

Related readings:  China completes main parts for C919 passenger jet  COMAC gets orders for 100 C919 jumbo jets

The jet, which can seat up to 168 passengers, will have its first test flight in 2014. The first delivery of the C919 is expected to be in 2016, after the jet receives its airworthiness certification from the General Administration of Civil Aviation.

Late last year, a different model of the C919 was displayed at Airshow China 2010 in Zhuhai city in southern China's Guangdong province.

The COMAC has taken its first 100 orders for the C919 from six companies, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and General Electric's leasing arm.

Next week's expo in Beijing, designed to display China's major scientific research achievements during the 11th Five-year Program (2006-2010), will be held in the National Conference Center.