China's self-made C919's key part rolls of production line

China has made a significant advance in the research and development of its self-designed large passenger jetliner C919.

China has made a significant advance in the research and development of its self-designed large passenger jetliner C919. The nose part of the first set of the plane has rolled off the production line in Chengdu.

This comes after the first forebody part of the plane was completed two months ago. Final assembly of the plane is expected later this year. It can seat up to 180 passengers, with a flying range of up to 5 thousand 5 hundred kilometers. The aircraft's manufacturer, The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China says it has secured 400 orders from 16 customers. The narrow-body C919 is the largest airliner designed and built in China. It is China's major effort to enter the global aircraft market dominated by Boeing and Airbus.