Shenzhou, Long March Also Displayed At Shanghai Show

China's Xinhua news agency is reporting the country's first true regional jet, the DC-9-size ARJ-21, is set to make its maiden flight in 2008, with commercial operations set to begin approximately one year after that.

An official with the aircraft's manufacturer, the first Airplane Designing Institute with China Aviation Industry Corp. (AVIC I), made the comment while attending an ongoing international aviation and space electronics and equipment in Shanghai. 

Three models of the 90-seat ARJ-21 were displayed at the show, according to media reports, in addition to a miniature model of China's Shenzhou spacecraft and two Long March 2D rocket models. Approximately 60 companies were represented at the trade show, the first-ever to be held in Shanghai.

As was previously reported in Aero-News, the ARJ-21 is rumored to share many similarities with the McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 -- not surprising as part of that company was later sold to China's National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp.

Roughly 35 orders have been placed so far for the regional airliner, which will be powered by General Electric engines. Manufacturing of components for the medium-size airliner began in 2003.

FMI: www.avic1.com.cn/English/EnglishIndex.asp