CFM International president Jean-Paul Ebanga has confirmed that the manufacturer will in the next few weeks deliver the first two engines to China's Comac for the C919 flight-test programme.

The Leap-1C engine has completed 21 flights on GE's Boeing 747 testbed, with the maiden flight taking place in October 2014.

Engines for the C919 passenger jet "are going off test stand this week" in preparation for shipping to China, says CFM executive vice-president Allen Paxson. Further engines for Comac will be delivered to China in line with Comac's flight-test programme requirements, says Ebanga.

Comac has not given any firm dates yet for the first flight of the C919. However, the company told Flightglobal in May that it will make an announcement on the aircraft's first-flight schedule towards the end of the year. The first flight of the C919 was originally scheduled for end-2015.

Source: Cirium Dashboard