Flightglobal.com has obtained these pictures of wings being attached to China’s first ARJ21-700 regional jet aircraft, inside a hangar in Shanghai last week (28 June).
Final assembly work began in March and is scheduled to be completed in December in time for the first flight test next March.
China Aviation Industry Corp (AVIC) 1 Commercial Aircraft (ACAC), a subsidiary of AVIC 1, is the company leading the project and ACAC is overseeing the work.
Final assembly of the 90-seat jet takes place at AVIC 1’s Shanghai Aircraft (SAC). The major sub-assemblies are largely made at other AVIC 1 factories across the country.
AVIC I has proved successful in ARJ21 sales to Chinese airlines, one of its key selling points being that high import taxes do not apply to it.
The aircraft's first flight is scheduled for 2008 and is due to enter service in 2009.
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Source: FlightGlobal.com
