China to inaugurate homegrown jet

SHANGHAI, Dec 21, 2007 (AP) -- China prepared Friday to inaugurate the country's first fully homegrown commercial aircraft, the ARJ-21, marking a major step in the country's aviation program.

A ceremony to inaugurate the jet, dubbed the Xiangfeng, or "Flying Phoenix," was to be held later Friday at the Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, the Commission of Science Technology & Industry for National Defense said in an announcement on its Web site.

Local officials said the ceremony was closed to media apart from the official Xinhua News Agency, although COSTIND, the agency overseeing China's efforts to acquire and develop military technology, said it was planning a live Web cast.

The manufacturer, China Aviation Industry Corp. I, plans to begin mass production in 2009.

The ARJ-21, a regional passenger jet with up to 85 seats, is scheduled to make its maiden flight in March.

The highly touted development project aims to make state-owned AVIC I a competitor to other makers of smaller passenger jets, such as Canada's Bombardier Inc. and Brazil's Embraer SA, while laying the groundwork for the development of a Chinese commercial jet twice the size of the ARJ-21.

AVIC I says the ARJ-21 is expected to grab up to 60 percent of the domestic market for mid-size regional airliners over the next 20 years.

China will need about 900 mid-sized regional jets over the next two decades, the company estimates, as economic growth drives an expansion of air travel and airlines look for planes best tailored to feeder routes.