Comac C919
Encyclopedia
The Comac C919 is a planned family of 168-190 seat narrow-body
airliner
s to be built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China
(Comac).
It will be the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China
since the defunct Shanghai Y-10. Its first flight is expected to take place in 2014, with deliveries scheduled for 2016. The C919 forms part of China's long-term goal to break Airbus
and Boeing
's duopoly
, and will compete against Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737 MAX
.
Comac applied for a type certificate
for the aircraft from the Civil Aviation Authority of China on 28 October 2010. The company plans to conduct the first flight of the C919 in 2014, with deliveries beginning in 2016.
On 24 November 2011, Comac announced the completion of the joint definition phase, marking the end of the preliminary design of the C919. The company said it planned to cut the first metal for the aircraft in December 2011, with estimated completion of the detailed design phase in 2012.
, using foreign-made jet engine
s and avionics
. However, China has expressed its desire to eventually produce a locally-made engine for the C919. It has been announced that Michelin will supply Air X radial tyres.
The center wing box, outer wing box, wing panels, flaps and ailerons are planned to be built in Xi'an, China. The center fuselage sections are planned to be built in Hongdu, China.
CFM International
will supply a version of the LEAP-X
engine, the LEAP-X1C, to power the aircraft. The engine's nacelle
, thrust reverser and exhaust system will be provided by Nexcelle
, with such features as an advanced inlet configuration, the extensive use of composites and acoustic treatment and an electrically-operated thrust reverser.
Dimensions of the C919 are very similar to the Airbus A320, possibly to allow for a common pallet
to be used. Its fuselage
will be 3.96 metres (13 feet) wide, and 4.166 metres (13 feet, 8 inches) high, producing a cross-section of 12.915 square metres (139 square feet). The wingspan
will be 33.6 metres (110 feet, 3 inches), or 35.4 metres (116 feet, 3 inches) if winglets are included.
Payload will be 20.4 metric tonnes. Its cruise
speed will be Mach
0.785 and it will have a maximum altitude
of 12,100 metres (39,800 feet).
There will be two variants. The standard version will have a range of 4,075 km (2,200nm
), with the extended-range version able to fly 5,555 km (3,000nm
).
According to a film shown by Comac at the 2010 Zhuhai Airshow, the company plans to build six different models of the aircraft: a base passenger aircraft with 168 seats, as well as stretched and shrunk passenger versions, business jet
and freighter models, and a type designated only as "special."
, Air China
, Hainan Airlines
, China Southern Airlines
, CDB Leasing Company, and GE Capital Aviation Services.
In February 2011 Ryanair
announced discussions with Comac about the purchase of the aircraft. Ryanair will receive the last of the Boeing 737-800 from their current orders in 2012, and have no order placed thereafter. By this time they will have over 300 of this aircraft type. They withdrew from negotiations with Boeing
and Airbus
in 2009 as they were unhappy with the prices offered. In June 2011 Michael O'Leary of Ryanair announced the company had signed an agreement to help develop the aircraft. O'Leary indicated Ryanair would share its experience and expertise to assist Comac developing the new C919 commercial aircraft, with up to 200 seats, which would enable Ryanair to lower its costs.
On 20 October 2011, Chinese leasing company ICBC Leasing announced an order for 45 C919s, as well as an agreement to be the launch customer for the aircraft.
Narrow-body aircraft
A narrow-body aircraft is an airliner with a fuselage aircraft cabin width typically of 3 to 4 metres , and airline seat arranged 2 to 6 abreast along a single aisle...
airliner
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
s to be built by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., or Comac, is a Chinese aerospace manufacturer established on 11 May 2008 in Shanghai, China. The company has a registered capital of RMB 19 billion...
(Comac).
It will be the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
since the defunct Shanghai Y-10. Its first flight is expected to take place in 2014, with deliveries scheduled for 2016. The C919 forms part of China's long-term goal to break Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
and Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
's duopoly
Duopoly
A true duopoly is a specific type of oligopoly where only two producers exist in one market. In reality, this definition is generally used where only two firms have dominant control over a market...
, and will compete against Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737 MAX
Boeing 737 MAX
The Boeing 737 MAX is a new family of aircraft being developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes to replace the Boeing 737 Next Generation family. The primary change will be the use of the larger and more efficient CFM International LEAP-1B engines. The airframe is to receive some modifications as...
.
Development
Construction of the nose section of the aircraft commenced on 2 September 2009.Comac applied for a type certificate
Type certificate
A Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
for the aircraft from the Civil Aviation Authority of China on 28 October 2010. The company plans to conduct the first flight of the C919 in 2014, with deliveries beginning in 2016.
On 24 November 2011, Comac announced the completion of the joint definition phase, marking the end of the preliminary design of the C919. The company said it planned to cut the first metal for the aircraft in December 2011, with estimated completion of the detailed design phase in 2012.
Design
Design and assembly of the aircraft will be done in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, using foreign-made jet engine
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
s and avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
. However, China has expressed its desire to eventually produce a locally-made engine for the C919. It has been announced that Michelin will supply Air X radial tyres.
The center wing box, outer wing box, wing panels, flaps and ailerons are planned to be built in Xi'an, China. The center fuselage sections are planned to be built in Hongdu, China.
CFM International
CFM International
CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aviation, a division of General Electric of the United States and Snecma, a division of Safran of France...
will supply a version of the LEAP-X
CFM International LEAP-X
|-See also:-External links:* * * *...
engine, the LEAP-X1C, to power the aircraft. The engine's nacelle
Nacelle
The nacelle is a cover housing that holds engines, fuel, or equipment on an aircraft. In some cases—for instance in the typical "Farman" type "pusher" aircraft, or the World War II-era P-38 Lightning—an aircraft's cockpit may also be housed in a nacelle, which essentially fills the...
, thrust reverser and exhaust system will be provided by Nexcelle
Nexcelle
Nexcelle is a joint venture between General Electric’s Middle River Aircraft Systems and the Safran group’s Aircelle – both of which are leading suppliers of engine nacelles, thrust reversers and aerostructures....
, with such features as an advanced inlet configuration, the extensive use of composites and acoustic treatment and an electrically-operated thrust reverser.
Dimensions of the C919 are very similar to the Airbus A320, possibly to allow for a common pallet
Unit Load Device
A unit load device , is a pallet or container used to load luggage, freight, and mail on wide-body aircraft and specific narrow-body aircraft. It allows a large quantity of cargo to be bundled into a single unit. Since this leads to fewer units to load, it saves ground crews time and effort and...
to be used. Its fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
will be 3.96 metres (13 feet) wide, and 4.166 metres (13 feet, 8 inches) high, producing a cross-section of 12.915 square metres (139 square feet). The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
will be 33.6 metres (110 feet, 3 inches), or 35.4 metres (116 feet, 3 inches) if winglets are included.
Payload will be 20.4 metric tonnes. Its cruise
Cruise (flight)
Cruise is the level portion of aircraft travel where flight is most fuel efficient. It occurs between ascent and descent phases and is usually the majority of a journey. Technically, cruising consists of heading changes only at a constant airspeed and altitude...
speed will be Mach
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
0.785 and it will have a maximum altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of 12,100 metres (39,800 feet).
There will be two variants. The standard version will have a range of 4,075 km (2,200nm
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
), with the extended-range version able to fly 5,555 km (3,000nm
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
).
According to a film shown by Comac at the 2010 Zhuhai Airshow, the company plans to build six different models of the aircraft: a base passenger aircraft with 168 seats, as well as stretched and shrunk passenger versions, business jet
Business jet
Business jet, private jet or, colloquially, bizjet is a term describing a jet aircraft, usually of smaller size, designed for transporting groups of up to 19 business people or wealthy individuals...
and freighter models, and a type designated only as "special."
Orders and deliveries
At the 2010 Zhuhai Airshow, Comac announced orders for 55 C919 aircraft from six airlines, with an additional 45 options. The purchasing airlines or lessors were China Eastern AirlinesChina Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited is an airline headquartered on the grounds of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Changning District, Shanghai, China. It is a major Chinese airline operating international, domestic and regional routes. Its main hubs are at Shanghai Pudong...
, Air China
Air China
Air China is the flag carrier and one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China. Based in Beijing Capital International Airport, Air China is the world's 10th largest airline by fleet size. The airline ranked behind its main competitors China Southern Airlines and China Eastern...
, Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines Company Limited is an airline headquartered in the HNA Development Building in Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China. It is the largest privately-owned air transport company and the fourth-largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People's Republic of China...
, China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines is an airline headquartered in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. It is the world's sixth-largest airline measured by passengers carried, and Asia's largest airline in terms of both fleet size and passengers carried...
, CDB Leasing Company, and GE Capital Aviation Services.
In February 2011 Ryanair
Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
announced discussions with Comac about the purchase of the aircraft. Ryanair will receive the last of the Boeing 737-800 from their current orders in 2012, and have no order placed thereafter. By this time they will have over 300 of this aircraft type. They withdrew from negotiations with Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
in 2009 as they were unhappy with the prices offered. In June 2011 Michael O'Leary of Ryanair announced the company had signed an agreement to help develop the aircraft. O'Leary indicated Ryanair would share its experience and expertise to assist Comac developing the new C919 commercial aircraft, with up to 200 seats, which would enable Ryanair to lower its costs.
On 20 October 2011, Chinese leasing company ICBC Leasing announced an order for 45 C919s, as well as an agreement to be the launch customer for the aircraft.
Orders
| Customer | Order | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air China Air China Air China is the flag carrier and one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China. Based in Beijing Capital International Airport, Air China is the world's 10th largest airline by fleet size. The airline ranked behind its main competitors China Southern Airlines and China Eastern... |
5 | 15 | |
| BOC Leasing | 30 | 0 | Leasing company |
| CDB Leasing Company | 10 | 0 | Leasing company |
| China Eastern Airlines China Eastern Airlines China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited is an airline headquartered on the grounds of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Changning District, Shanghai, China. It is a major Chinese airline operating international, domestic and regional routes. Its main hubs are at Shanghai Pudong... |
5 | 15 | |
| China Southern Airlines China Southern Airlines China Southern Airlines is an airline headquartered in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. It is the world's sixth-largest airline measured by passengers carried, and Asia's largest airline in terms of both fleet size and passengers carried... |
5 | 15 | |
| GE Capital Aviation Services | 10 | 0 | Leasing company |
| ICBC Leasing | 45 | 0 | Leasing company |
| Hainan Airlines Hainan Airlines Hainan Airlines Company Limited is an airline headquartered in the HNA Development Building in Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China. It is the largest privately-owned air transport company and the fourth-largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People's Republic of China... |
5 | 15 | |
| Sichuan Airlines Sichuan Airlines Sichuan Airlines Co., Ltd. is a regional airline headquartered on the grounds of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, Sichuan in the People's Republic of China, operating mainly scheduled domestic flights out of Chengdu Airport and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.- History... |
20 | 0 | |
| Total | 135 | 60 |
See also
- Comac ARJ21
External links
- C919 Program official page at Commercial Aircraft Corporation of ChinaCommercial Aircraft Corporation of ChinaCommercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., or Comac, is a Chinese aerospace manufacturer established on 11 May 2008 in Shanghai, China. The company has a registered capital of RMB 19 billion...