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Made-in-China jet could challenge Boeing, Airbus

The passenger jet C919 seats 168 passengers and could be airborne as early as May 5

Published Wed, May 3, 2017 · 09:50 PM

Shanghai

CHINA is expected within days to carry out the maiden test flight of a homegrown passenger jet built to meet soaring Chinese travel demand and challenge the dominance of Boeing and Airbus.

The C919, built by state-owned aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), was set to take wing over Shanghai and could be cleared for takeoff as early as Friday, according to state media.

The narrow-body jet represents nearly a decade of effort in a state-mandated …