C919 takes first long-distance flight today from Shanghai to Xi'an

The Chinese-made C919 passenger jet makes its first long-distance flight on Friday, leaving Shanghai for Shaanxi Province where it will undergo further testing.

The C919 prepares for a test on November 8, 2017 before a long-distance flight from Shanghai to Xi'an. [Photo: VCG]

The plane took off in Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 11:38 a.m. on Friday and flied to Yanliang Testing Base in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, according to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the jet.

Cai Jun, captain of the maiden flight, said earlier that the aircraft is to fly at a height of 7,800 meters and complete the 1,400-km journey in around three hours.

The company plans to produce six test planes, with the second expected to make its maiden flight at the end of this year.

The first C919 completed its maiden test flight in May and has now made five test flights. It will remain at the Yanliang base to undergo more complicated testing in order to acquire its airworthiness certificates.

COMAC has received orders for 730 C919 planes from 27 domestic and international clients.

With a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, the C919 jet is comparable to the updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737 planes.