China’s new jetliner completes final tests & ready for take off, by RT.

The first large Chinese passenger jet, the C919, has passed a crucial test and is expected to make its first flight in May. The plane is part of China’s ambitious plan to become one of the world’s biggest aircraft manufacturers.

High-speed taxiing tests at speeds of 230 – 260 kilometers per hour were carried out at Pudong International Airport when the pilots lifted the nose of the jet into the air and slammed on the brakes. They had to show the aircraft can stop safely on the runway in case of emergency.

The twin-engine C919 was unveiled last November at a roll-out ceremony in Shanghai. … The new narrow-body airliner is roughly the same size as Airbus’s A320 and Boeing’s 737-800 and is expected to compete with them. …

According to the 2016-2035 Global Market Forecast presented by Airbus, Chinese airlines will need about 6,000 new jets worth $945 billion over the next two decades.

hat-tip Stephen Neil