Xi hails newly approved Chinese C919 jet as historic landmark

C919. The third prototype of China’s home-built passenger jet C919 takes off during its first test flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, December 28, 2018. China’s C919 aims to compete in the busiest part of the jet market with the Airbus A320neo or the Boeing 737 MAX President Xi Jinping hailed the development of China's first medium-haul passenger jet as the embodiment of the country's drive towards self-sufficiency, with safety approval awarded to a plane that aims to challenge Western plane giants for high-tech jetliner sales. The first C919 aircraft, designed to compete with popular single-aisle models…