China's first big passenger plane completes maiden flight

Kentaro Lemoto

China has taken to the skies or, rather, its first domestically manufactured large-scale passenger aircraft has. The Comac C919 completed its maiden flight today (Friday), carrying a skeleton crew and several mechanics. According to the BBC, the flight lasted 90 minutes, taking off in front of a crowd of thousands, including dignitaries, aviation workers and enthusiasts before landing back at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport. Aiming to be a direct competitor to Boeing’s 737 and the Airbus 320 – and at $50m, less than half the price – the C919 illuminates the growing ambition of the people’s republic. Initially announced back in 2008, it suffered repeated delays before finally launching.