After so many years, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation (Comac) has unveiled China's contingent to famous airplanes manufactured by the likes of Airbus Group and Boeing Co. The new commercial-based jetliner C919 was towed out for its first public appearance during a press conference in Shanghai on Monday.

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The narrow-body, twin-engine aircraft resembles its competiting - Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 series. Depending on the cabin structure, C919 can transport between 159 to 174 passengers. It has a flying range of up to 5,555 kilometers (3,451 miles) and can cater for both business and vacation routes like Shanghai to Singapore and Beijing to Bangkok, according to CNN.

During the ceremony, under the banner of "a dream takes off" (translated) and a huge China flag, a white, shiny C919 with blue stripes and a green tail was unvieled behind a red curtain.

Many experts agree that the launch of the first China-built airplane is just a start of the People Republic's desire to domestically manufacture jets instead of purchasing from European-based Airbus and US-based Boeing. The C919 project was launched in 2008, marking China comeback to the airline industry after an unsuccessful attempt in the 1980s.

It is no doubt that China has a growing market for aviation. Ranked as the second largest air travel market, CNN reports that over the next 20 years, the communist country will probably need 6,300 new planes.

The China-based company Comac revealed that currently there are already 517 orders on the waiting list from 21 different corporations, most of them are state-owned Chinese airlines and local aircraft leasing companies. Over the next two decades, the company is targeting to sell 2000 aircrafts.

According to Air and Space Magazine, the plane will be undergoing flying tests and if it succeeds, its maiden flight will be set in 2016, with C919 joining the airline service in 2018. 

TagsC919 Planes, Commercial Aircraft Corporation, Comac, Comac Planes, aviation industry, airplane