SHANGHAI, Feb. 13 -- China's C919 large passenger aircraft project will see an overall accelerative test flight phase with the test fleet reaching six in 2019, according to its developer on Wednesday.
In 2019, three new airplanes will conduct their first test flights and then join the test fleet. The batch production ramp-up is also underway, said the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC).
The C919, China's first self-developed trunk jetliner, conducted a successful maiden flight on May 5, 2017, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
By the end of 2018, three C919 airplanes have completed their test flights.
To date, another three are now in the final assembly, part assembly or large parts manufacturing phases respectively and are expected to join the fleet by the end of the year.
The flight test is a key verification phase for an aircraft model to validate its design and performance, especially the safety aspects.
The C919 airplanes will fly to various airports to undergo rigorous testing in complex weather conditions and a series of high-risk test flights, according to COMAC.
To date, COMAC has received 815 orders for the C919 from 28 customers worldwide.
Attitude toward sex, pregnancy changing
US mourns death of week-old panda
Confessions from beyond the grave
Syria claims gains in Aleppo
Armstrong back in the saddle after banning
France seeks to become more inviting to immigrants
S. Korea's Lee apologizes for graft scandal
'Food will cost more' due to US drought
Blackout hits more than 300 million in India
Foreign firms 'will benefit from new industries'
Tibetan-language phones welcomed
Silver and bronze are golden too
Fugitive suspect returns to China
Spanish 'Robin Hood' an anti-austerity hero
Accident raises concern over trucks
Usain Bolt team: 'True Hero' trademark is a non-starter
40 injured after Foxconn plant clashes
Swimmers told to avoid jellyfish after tragedy
Students encouraged to leave parents behind
Traffic may cost car owners
London apologizes for DPRK flag mix-up
Fukushima caused 'mutant butterflies'
Organizers brace for social-media nightmares sure to come
UK stores try to get Chinese lovers in the mood
Panetta's Asia-Pacific trip aids strategic pivot
Romney picks Paul Ryan for running mate
Military dismisses islands war fear
12 people die when van crashes into back of parked truck in Sichuan
Morsi says Cairo, Washington can be 'real friends'
Arrests destroy criminal gang in market