COMAC aims to deliver homegrown plane C919 in 2021

Lu Zheng, a COMAC sales manager, revealed the plan at the ongoing Singapore Airshow.

"The first test plane completed its maiden flight last May and is now in Shaanxi for more tests. The tests for the second plane are also well underway following its first flight last December. We hope to obtain airworthiness certificates from Chinese civil aviation authority in 3 to 4 years and then begin deliveries to our first client, China Eastern Airlines, in 2021," said Lu.

COMAC has secured more than 700 orders for the plane.

Other Chinese aerospace firms are also showcasing products at the airshow.

Star UAV System, a Chengdu-based developer of unmanned aerial vehicles, is displaying its landmark AT200.

The vehicle, able to carry up to 1.5 tons, is said to be the world's largest cargo drone.

Xiang Liqi, director of Star UAV System, says there is a huge market potential for the vehicle in Southeast Asia.

"For example, Singapore has 63 islands. Malaysia and Indonesia have many islets far away from their main islands. The need for cargo transportation is huge. However, transportation by ship is too slow. For an island 500 km away, it takes a ship around 20 hours. But for the AT200, it will only take up to 2 hours," said Xiang.

Singapore Airshow, held every two years, is the biggest airshow in Asia.

It's estimated the air travel market in Asia will be greater than Europe and North America combined by 2030.