The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd (COMAC) and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have chosen the biennial Airshow China being held in Zhuhai between November 6-11 to unveil a life-size model of its joint venture commercial jet, the CR929. According to Reuters, the ceremony was attended by senior executives from both state-owned planemakers.
The model is 22 meters long, 6.5 meters tall and 5.9 meters wide, incorporating a roomy interior with 9-abreast basic seating in economy class. The cockpit contains dummy instruments, though while the actual systems are yet to be chosen, a sidestick similar to the flying control favored by Airbus over the traditional control column has been included in the mock-up. “It is more Airbus than Boeing,” a senior Western aerospace executive said.
Commenting on the occasion, UAC President Yury Slyusar said: “Our program is making progress and is on schedule. It is currently in the preliminary design phase and we are also in the supplier and equipment selection phase, which will finish by the end of 2019.”
UAC and COMAC announced they would cooperate on a wide-body jet program in 2014 and full-scale development of the program began three years later with the formation of the joint venture – China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Corporation (CRAIC).
Chen Yingchun, COMAC's chief designer for the CR929 program, told reporters that CRAIC would seek supplier proposals from all over the world but refused to comment on whether current trade frictions with the United States would influence any decisions.
Beijing wants the single-aisle aircraft to compete with the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787. Senior COMAC executive commented back in June that the CR929 would aim to make its maiden flight in 2023.
