Second C919 completes 1st long-distance test flight

The second prototype of the C919 aircraft, China's first domestically produced narrow-body passenger jet, made its first long-distance test flight from Shanghai to Dongying, Shandong province, on Thursday, indicating that the C919 will start a period of intensive test flights at different testing bases simultaneously.

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), its manufacturer, said the C919 aircraft will enter a new stage of intensive test flights and research and development. The aircraft model will face the challenges of taking some highly risky test flights including those under complicated weather conditions.

The 102 prototype test aircraft of the C919 took off at 2:57 pm from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and flew for one hour and 46 minutes, before it landed at Shengli Airport in Dongying, and the aircraft will transfer to the testing base in Dongying to take various tests from now on, according to COMAC.

The 102 prototype test aircraft mainly does ground tests and flight tests covering areas such as the examination of the power system, fuel system, power supply system and environmental control system.

According to its plan, COMAC will put in six test aircraft to take test flights, including those during icy, high temperature and severely cold conditions. In addition, another two aircraft will only undergo ground tests, including static and fatigue tests.