Mock up of C919 Unveiled at Zhuhai Airshow

China Commercial Aviation Corporation, or COMAC, has unveiled the full-scale mock up of its single aisle 160-seater C919 jet at the Zhuhai air show. The C919 increases competition for Boeing's 737 and Airbus's A320 in the narrowbody segment.

CRI's Larry Chen reports from Zhuhai.

Wu Guanghuij, head designer of the C919 project, says he recognizes the need to build an advanced and commercially viable aircraft.

"We need to be successful in both in making advancements in technology and in business. The two go hand in hand. You can't be successful in the market without technological advancement. On the other hand, if you only focus on technology and fail commercially, then it means that the project is not good. We have to be successful in both."

Wu also compares China's large passenger aircraft ambitions with the country's developing transportation infrastructure.

"China's high speed rail is one of the best in the world. Its highway system and the auto industry are all quite developed.

Of course, China has the ability and the market demand to develop civil aviation."

While the C919 is touted as a competitor to the popular Boeing 737's and Airbus A320's, Airbus China's Vice President of communications, Lindsey Mi, says they are welcoming COMAC into the market.

"In [the] big market, there are Boeing, there are Airbus. There are other producers. For a huge market, there couldn't be only two. A and B. No. There must be C, C919. So we welcome the competition."

The C919 is not scheduled to fly until 2014, and won't be delivered to costumers until two years after that.

For CRI, I'm Larry Chen, reporting from the Zhuhai Airshow.