Jumbo Jet Collaborative Innovation

Tianjin University carries out optimal design of the C919 air distribution system.

The supercritical airfoil used on the C919 model was developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AICC). However, one crucial technological feature in the manufacture of airplane wings – shot peening on large integral wing panels – had long been a foreign monopoly, which restricted the development of large airplanes in China. After much research and systematic experiments, AICC finally mastered supercritical airfoil technology and applied for a patent. It thus circumvented the foreign monopoly and became one of the few companies in the world with intellectual rights to the technology.

This epitomizes the nature of the technological research involved in C919 development. Western countries continue to lead the way in developing large passenger aircraft and are veterans on the international market, while China still faces technical obstacles. COMAC focused on developing 102 key technologies during C919 production, not only achieving breakthroughs in new materials, modern manufacturing and advanced power, but also promoting the development of mechanics, computational mathematics and other core subjects in China. As a result, the country’s technology diffusion ratio has increased to 60 percent.

An International Industry Chain in Aircraft Manufacturing

The C919’s dimensions are very similar to those of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Fuselage length is 38.9 meters, wingspan 35.8 meters, and height 12 meters. There are two models. The standard version has a range of 2,200 nautical miles (NM). The other model has an extended range of 3,000 NM. It can cruise at a maximum altitude of 35,000 feet. Compared with similar models on the market, the C919 has larger passenger capacity and lower fuel consumption.