Comac C929

C929
Role Wide-body twinjet airliner
National origin China, Russia
Manufacturer Comac, UAC
Designer Comac, UAC
First flight 2025-2028 (projected)[1]
Introduction 2025-2028 (projected)[1]
Status Joint-Venture established[1]
Program cost $13-20 billion[2]

The Comac C929 is a planned 250-to-280-seat wide-body twinjet airliner to be developed by Chinese Comac and Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to challenge the Airbus and Boeing duopoly.[3]

Development

In June 2011, Comac was studying the 290 seats C929 and 390 seats C939 wide-body aircraft.[4] In June 2012, Russia and China were to set up a joint venture between UAC and Comac to develop after demand evaluation for at least seven years and $7-12 billion an Il-96 successor and produce several hundred aircraft, with Russia contributing its knowledge and China providing the resources.[5]

In May 2014, a memorandum on cooperation was reached and a feasibility study completed in autumn 2014. UAC estimates a 8,000 widebody worldwide demand through 2033, with 1,000 in China. In November 2014 UAC said it would have a 12,000 km (6,500 nmi) range while Comac pointed a gap for a 7,400 km (4,000 nm) moderate range ; seating was targeted for 250-280 seats with later shrink and stretch. In February 2015 preliminary design had begun. In 2016 should be launched with detailed design a nine-year, $13 billion development program, targeting a 2025 introduction. Comac was likely to develop and build the fuselage while UAC handles the composite wing and fin.[6]

In June 2015, an agreement targeted a mid-2021 first flight, certification and initial deliveries in 2024. The airframe would be 50% composite and 15% titanium, UAC would deliver in 2019-2020 the first 360 ft (110 m) wide composite wing.[7] In November 2015 was announced the more fuel-efficient, re-engined Ilyushin IL-96-400M as a more attainable and affordable alternative.[8]

In June 2016 was signed an agreement to set up a 50-50 joint venture.[9] In November 2016 at Zhuhai Airshow Comac and UAC searched suppliers and approached Honeywell and United Technologies.[3] Its mock-up was exhibited there.[10] Comac and UAC estimated the development at 10 years, implying a first delivery in 2027 if the joint company is established and the program is launched in 2017.[11]

CRAIC joint venture

The China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Corporation Limited (CRAIC) 50-50 joint venture was launched on May 22, 2017 in Shanghai, targeting a 2025-2028 maiden flight and first delivery. It aims to take 10% of a market dominated by Boeing and Airbus of 9,100 widebodies over 20 years through 2035, with a plane 10-15% cheaper to run.[1] Based in Shanghai where the assembly line will be located, CRAIC will oversee the programme : technology development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, customer services, and programme management. The fuselage will be aluminium, total investment will be $13-20 billion.[2]

Seating : 1-2-1 in First, 2-2-2 in Business and 3-3-3 in Economy

For 2023–45, UAC and Comac forecast a 7,000 widebodies demand for $1.5 trillion - an average of $214 million, their goal for first delivery is 2027. The 280 passengers capacity over 12,000 km is comparable to the Airbus A330-900 but with a nine-abreast economy seating, the shrink would seat 230 while the stretch 320. Major suppliers will be picked among 169 companies by the end of 2018, as detailed design should be completed and a joint engineering center in Moscow with a branch in Shanghai will oversee development, employing around 100 engineers from both countries. Comac's will be in charge of the fuselage sections, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, wing fairings, nose cone and landing gear; UAC will develop the composite wing, wing flap systems, engine pylons and main landing gear, with Chinese manufacture if it is cheaper.[12]

For Russia, Moscow will provide the know-how and technology, while Beijing will be responsible for the cash.[13] China could see the joint venture involving joint financial investments, rather than an intellectual property sale, as Russia wants with the research and development center in Moscow and the aircraft manufacturing in Shanghai.[14]

Engines

A competitive widebody would initially need Western powerplants and onboard systems. At November 2014 Zhuhai Airshow, a later high-thrust joint turbofan was discussed between Avic Commercial Aircraft Engines and United Engine Corporation (UEC), with parameters defined in early 2015 for an introduction between 2025 and 2030.[6] It would need a 77,000–88,000 lbf (340–390 kN) thrust turbofan, a more powerful version of the Aviadvigatel PD-14 developed for the Irkut MC-21 could be developed after its certification in 2017, with a 50% scaled up core.[7]

In August 2015 was also proposed a derivative of the Kuznetsov NK-32 powering the Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic bomber.[15] In May 2016 began the development of a 35 tf (77,000 lbf) Russian engine Aviadvigatel PD-35 for the twinjet, expected to enter service in 2025.[16]

Specifications

Specifications[17]
3-class seating 258-280
2-class seating 261-291
1-class seating 321-416
Length 57.5-63.43 m / 189-208 ft
Wingspan 58-61 m / 190-200 ft
Height 17.9 m / 58.7 ft
Fuselage width*height 5.92*6.07 m / 19.4*19.9 ft
Cabin max width 5.61 m / 18.4 ft
MTOW 208.8–234 t (460,000–516,000 lb)
Payload 48.83–50.4 t (107,700–111,100 lb)
Fuel 103.7 t (229,000 lb)
Turbofans (2x) GEnx / Trent 1000/7000
Thrust 71,226–75,000 lbf (316.83–333.62 kN)
Cruise Mach 0.85 (490 kn; 908 km/h)
Range 12,000 km / 6,480 nmi

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Brenda Goh (May 22, 2017). "China, Russia set up wide-body jet firm in new challenge to Boeing, Airbus". Reuters.
  2. 1 2 Greg Waldron (22 May 2017). "Comac, UAC set up joint venture for widebody effort". Flightglobal.
  3. 1 2 "Russia & China reveal their alternative to Airbus & Boeing". Russia Today. 2 Nov 2016.
  4. ↑ "China's Comac Joins Commercial Passenger Plane Industry". The Chosun Ilbo. June 30, 2011.
  5. ↑ Tom Zaitsev (1 June 2012). "Russia and China discuss Il-96 successor". Air Transport Intelligence. Flightglobal.
  6. 1 2 Maxim Pyadushkin and Bradley Perrett (Feb 11, 2015). "Russo-Chinese Widebody Concept Design Underway". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  7. 1 2 Vladimir Karnozov (June 11, 2015). "Russia and China Push for Next-Gen Widebody". Aviation International News.
  8. ↑ Vladimir Karnozov (February 15, 2016). "Russia Backs UAC to Expand Airliner Product Range". Aviation International News.
  9. ↑ "Russia, China Sign JV Agreement to Create Wide-Body Aircraft". China Aviation Daily. Jun 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ China Aviation Daily (3 Nov 2016). "COMAC Debuts Chinese-Russian Wide-Body C929 Model at Zhuhai Airshow" (Press release). COMAC.
  11. ↑ Bradley Perrett. "Comac Foresees A Future Of ‘Intelligent Aircraft’ May 12, 2017". Aviation Daily. Aviation Week.
  12. ↑ Maxim Pyadushkin (May 22, 2017). "UAC And Comac Developing Widebody Aircraft". Aviation Daily. Aviation Week Network.
  13. ↑ "Russia and China are to challenge Boeing and Airbus as world aircraft leaders". Russia Today. 31 May 2012.
  14. ↑ Richard Aboulafia (Jul 17, 2017). "Opinion: Why Sino-Russian Widebody Project Is Not Another Airbus". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  15. ↑ "Dmitry Rogozin: an engine for a new transport aircraft may be derived from NK-32". Russian Aviation. August 17, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Moscow starts developing heavy engine for joint Chinese-Russian airliner". TASS. June 20, 2016.
  17. ↑ Bradley Perrett (12 Oct 2015). "Treading Carefully" (PDF). Aviation Week & Space Technology. Full-scale development of a Chinese and Russian 787-10 competitor looks imminent.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.