Comac C919 to take maiden flight in 2015

File photo shows technicians installing rivets on fuselage of C919 airliner in the assembly base of the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, Sept 19, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

(ECNS) - The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac), the country's state-owned plane manufacturer, has targeted 2015 for the first flight of the C919 airliner, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

With the successful roll out of the fuselage, the first C919 airliner is expected to make a maiden flight this year, said Comac. The manufacturer is targeting 2017 for C919 certification, with first deliveries also scheduled for that year.

The C919 is a planned family of 158-174 seat narrow-body airliners under development by Comac. As the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China, it is intended to compete against the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.