OK, I badly need some Chinese assistance here. This image below has turned up today in a Chinese publication, it seems to me purporting to be China's planned C919 airliner. If it really is a high-wing, T-tailed configuration then that would be a huge surprise. Surely not?But at least the explanation for why it's called the C919, which I've been wondering about for ages, sounds plausible. I'm relying on Google for my translation however - it would be great if somebody out there could work out a more accurate version.
Here's how the text translates with Google.
China-made large aircraft, C919 unveiled by the end of the delivery of the nose leaking "secret"
(Reporter Zhang Yingchuan) China's first Chinese-made large aircraft
C919 aircraft engineering prototype of the nose started yesterday. This indicates that China's independent design and manufacture of large aircraft project has achieved a breakthrough.
Yesterday afternoon, this reporter learned from the China Aviation Industry Group, the above information.
At present, C919 nose engineering sample of large passenger aircraft
project is on schedule and to carry out the work, has been compiled
manufacturing network to complete the project plan, process
manufacturing overall program to complete some of the tooling, tool
manufacturing.
The future of China-made large aircraft, the final annual production capacity will reach 150 in 20 years the total output will reach 2300.
China Aviation industry experts said, when the capacity will be world's third largest, in the largest share of global production aircraft, which is only behind Boeing and Airbus later.
Journalists from both China Commercial Aircraft Co., Ltd understands that made China's first large aircraft C919 aircraft shape prototype, will be held in Hong Kong in 2009, the Asian Aerospace International Expo and Forum exhibition, which will be the C919 for the first time in the international market appearance.
It is understood that China has independently developed the first large aircraft engines "China Heart" is scheduled to complete development by 2016.
The open-made prototype of 1:1 nose works, mainly for the cockpit and
electronic equipment cabin layout coordination, ergonomics of the
inspection, some of the equipment of the functional verification
testing.
Components will be conducted in mid-October opening riveting, is expected to be delivered in late.
So, make of that what you will. Keen-eyed readers will already have realised that if this image does actually have anything to do with the C919 then there are some difficulties with this image, which, oddly enough, is on the front cover of Flight International this week, introducing the magazine's China special report.
Anyway, all that aside, the report above continues with an explanation of why the C919 is called the C919. Which, again courtesy of Google, is this:
Why is particularly concerned about the large aircraft, named C919?
C - China's first letter, symbolizes determined among the major international passenger market, and Airbus (Airbus) and Boeing (Boeing) a large passenger aircraft manufacturing industry in the international side by side pattern ABC.
The first "9" - implies permanence.
"19" - the largest with a capacity for 190.
And finally, Jim Muttram, who's the Reed Business Information director with responsibility for Flight, coincidentally has a blog post on the whole question of the role of automatic translations in publishing. He and I would both be very interested to hear your views.
And finally, finally, if you actually do know what the C919 looks like - do tell!
on September 2, 2009 8:35 PM | Reply
With regards to the name, this should be the correct description:
C - represents China, also shows China's intention to be the next powerhouse in building large commercial aircrafts after Airbus and Boeing.
First 9 - represents long lasting. (In Chinese, number 9 pronounces the same as the word "long lasting")
19 - represents the maximum passenger capacity.
The “nose” in Google translation means nose section of the aircraft. And the drawing of the aircraft seems to be an artist’s rendering for illustration in newspaper instead of the actual design. The artist’s name is at the bottom of the drawing.
on September 2, 2009 11:36 PM | Reply
Interesting. It looks like a civilian C-17 with 2 engines.
190 seats sounds a little short. It's a double decker, and even if it's a narrowbody 230+ sounds more like it.
on September 3, 2009 2:16 AM | Reply
I'm sorry, but that C-919 is a fantasy cooked up by an artist, not an engineer.
For starters, the wingbox doesn't exist, because there is an upper deck of passenger seating in the way.
Second, there seems to be a dearth of windows for the 190 passengers to look out of.
That aircraft looks like a medium cargo lifter, in the A400M range.
on September 3, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply
Maybe the answer is in this chinese news article:
http://china.org.cn/government/NPC_CPPCC_2009/2009-03/07/content_17393841.htm
I'm entirely unsure if the aircraft shown is not actually a small airliner that has nothing whatsoever to do with the C919, but one of you experts can surely find out.
on September 3, 2009 5:11 PM | Reply
Rocketfist, no, that one's clearly wrong. As far as I can see it's the Chinese ARJ21 regional jet which flew earlier this year. Whatever else about the C919, it certainly hasn't been built yet.
on September 3, 2009 8:05 PM | Reply
Kieran: I totally agree. After some comparison, both the airframe and hangar look exactly like the ARJ21's. So it was just a wrong image caption.
John S: What's more, the dimensions shown in the artist's concept don't fit for a widebody aircraft. The mid-wing concept is nice (and usually has no wing box) but there are good practical reasons it's never used in commercial aircraft. The photo on Kieran's second article from today, being much more generic, probably may be closer to the truth.
on September 4, 2009 8:12 AM | Reply
Kieran: I totally agree. It was apparently just used as an illustration for the article - probably very much like the subject drawing here above (whose dimensions just don't fit for a widebody). So, we'll all be waiting for your further news on the subject.
on September 4, 2009 5:11 PM | Reply
Flight's team of crack reporters is even now en route to Hong Kong for the Asian Aerospace show where the C919 is supposed to be revealed in model form next week.
on September 6, 2009 4:08 AM | Reply
A full scale mock up of the C919 will be on display at the Asian Aerospace Expo and Congress on Tuesday (8 September) in Hong Kong. I'll be sure to take a picture for you.
on September 7, 2009 2:11 PM | Reply
Soo (drum roll)...
it's finally a fuselage reminiscent of the B737, with those small double overwing exits and cockpit window shape, and a nose, wing/belly joint and vertical fin similar to the A320. Talk about learning from one's peers! Hopefully, Flight's crack team of reporters in HK will be able to provide further insight soon.