The long-awaited C919 is set to take its maiden flight on Friday.
From the time the State Council, China's cabinet, decided to develop the aircraft in 2007 until the inaugural flight, it has taken Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) 10 years to make the passenger jet a reality.
Twenty-three foreign and domestic customers have put in 570 orders for the narrow-body passenger jet. These customers include Air China, China Eastern Airlines Corp and China Southern Airlines Co, as well as aircraft leasing companies such as GE Capital Aviation Service and CCB Financial Leasing.
