Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) will unveil at the show a model showing the exterior design of its much-anticipated Comac C919 - the aircraft China hopes will establish the country as one of the world's top commercial aircraft-makers.
The C919 is a 130-200 seat commercial aircraft currently in development that China hopes to build in time for entry into service in 2016.
China's commercial aviation industry has decades of experience building regional aircraft and freighters but the C919 will be the first large commercial aircraft the country has built since the 1970s.
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Comac, which has one of the largest stands at the show, is speaking with various western suppliers about recruiting them as partners on the programme. Engine makers including CFM International, General Electric, International Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce have been meeting Comac to discuss the supply of engines for the project.
Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Commercial Engines also hopes to supply Chinese-built engines for the C919 but has conceded the first C919s are likely to be powered by western engines.
US firm Goodrich, meanwhile, is forming a joint-venture with China's Xian Aircraft in the hope that this new venture can secure C919 work.
The Chinese joint-venture plans to make landing-gear and engine nacelle components.
Source: Flight Daily News
