COMAC C919-600 Completes First Flight
Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC has carried out the first test flight of the C919-600, a new shortened-fuselage version of the C919 family.
The prototype took off from Shanghai Pudong Airport on 29 July and remained airborne for approximately two hours. COMAC stated that the manoeuvres planned as part of the test programme were completed successfully during the flight, and that the maiden flight marks an important milestone in the certification process.
The C919-600 is being developed specifically for operations at high-altitude airports. Its intended areas of use include airports on the Tibetan Plateau, where altitude makes engine performance and aerodynamic conditions more demanding.
Xizang Airlines became the first customer for the C919-600, having signed an agreement for 40 aircraft at the 2024 Singapore Airshow. Development work between COMAC and the airline began in 2023.
With a fuselage roughly 5 metres shorter than the standard C919, the C919-600 measures about 34 metres in length. The aircraft is planned to seat between 138 and 160 passengers, compared with 158 to 192 on the standard C919 depending on configuration.
The C919-600 has not yet received type certification in China. While the first test flight marks a significant step in the flight-test phase of the certification programme, COMAC has not yet announced a timeline for entry into service.
