China-made private plane debuts at Airshow 2012

More than a century after aviator Feng Ru from Guangdong Province flew the country's first aircraft in 1909, the province presented Monday its first independently designed aircraft in the lead up to Airshow China 2012, which kicks off in Zhuhai Tuesday.

Four Chinese general aviation companies announced they have signed contracts to purchase eight Primus 150s, a five-seat business aircraft developed by Zhuhai-based China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA).

The Primus 150 is the first general aviation development project approved by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), CAIGA's parent company, after China's State Council and the Central Military Commission opened part of the country's low-altitude airspace to private and state owned enterprises in November 2010.

As the fastest, pressurized single-engine turboprop business aircraft in its class, the Primus 150 has an airframe made entirely of carbon fiber composite.

Its maximum speed is 600 kilometers per hour and its maximum range is 2,500 kilometers. The plane is scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2013 and will be on the market in 2015, according to CAIGA.

"China is a growing market for business and general aviation," said Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of GE Aviation's Business & General Aviation, which provided a newly designed engine for the Primus 150.