On September 29, 2017, CRAIC officially released the official designation of the long-range wide-body passenger aircraft, CR929. The "C" in this nomenclature stands for China and the "R" stands for Russia, symbolizing the in-depth cooperation between China and Russia in the field of civil aviation. As of today, the research and development of CR929 has gone through nearly two years, and at this stage, the important take-off parameters of CR929 have also been made public, which has attracted widespread attention from the international community.
Founded by COMAC and United Aviation Corporation, the CR929 was limited to basic data, such as the ability to carry 280 passengers and a range of 12,000 kilometers. But this time, the Russian United Engine Company exposed the maximum take-off weight data of CR929, which is up to 245 tons. Even more encouraging, the Aeroflot Insider website claims that United Engines plans to supply the CR929 with its PD-35 large turbofan engine, and Russian sources have confirmed the authenticity of this data.
For followers in the field of domestic aircraft, a maximum take-off weight of 245 tons is almost the norm for the basic model CR929-600. In comparison, the C919 passenger aircraft under test flight has a maximum take-off weight of 72.5 tons, and the CR929 is more than three times that of it. International competitors competing with the CR929 include the European Airbus A330-900 and the latest upgraded 787-9 from Boeing in the United States, with a maximum take-off weight of 251 tons and 247 tons respectively.
According to the data, the Airbus A330-900 can carry 260 to 300 passengers and has a maximum range of 13,400 kilometers. The Boeing 787-9 can accommodate 296 passengers and has a maximum range of about 14,000 kilometers. In contrast, the domestic CR929 is slightly inferior in parameters, but to achieve surpassing, only a few extended models are needed, but after all, civil aircraft are designed for commercial transportation, and the choice of final model will be affected by market demand.
Development of the CR929 large-body airliner is well underway, and despite the technical challenges, many international engine manufacturers are competing for engine cooperation opportunities. AECC also proposed its own engine to participate in the bidding. This fierce competition not only ensures the competitive improvement of aircraft performance, but also provides opportunities for learning and progress in the field of civil aviation engines in China.
However, there is no denying that the two aviation giants, Boeing and Airbus, are uneasy in the face of the rise of new competitors. It will be a historic turning point for the long time that the dominance of the United States and Europe in civil aviation will be challenged by the addition of new powers.