The plane flew twice over the harbor in cloudy weather for excited onlookers. The C919 is Continental's first domestically developed narrow-body airliner designed to compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee excitedly said on Weibo: "I am really excited to capture the moment when the C919 aircraft independently developed by the country soars over Victoria Harbour! If you also take pictures of the aircraft, remember to sign up for the "C919 Aircraft Hong Kong Flight Demonstration" photo contest”
I have to say that Hong Kong's aviation culture is still in place.
On December 16, hundreds of Hong Kongers gathered early in the morning at Victoria Harbour to watch the C919 fly over the city, with aviation enthusiasts hailing the plane as a new starting point for the country's aviation industry.
At 10:30 a.m., C919 took off from Hong Kong International Airport and flew twice over the harbor in cloudy weather for excited onlookers. Crowds gathered at the waterfront promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui, where teenagers and retirees alike eagerly snapped in photos, cameras and telephoto lenses in hand, planes soaring through the sky. For Hong Kong residents, the opportunity to see C919 is still rare.
The C919 jet flew next to two IFC buildings in Central. During the morning visit, the authorities set up temporary restricted flight zones in and around Victoria Harbour.
Some aviation enthusiasts said in an interview that they thought the plane was sturdy and did not make too much noise. And said: "After all, this is the first time that a Chinese-made [airliner] has performed or flown in the skies of Hong Kong." It's really beautiful. ”
At Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park, a large crowd of about 100 people, including some elderly people and parents with children, as well as some tourists from the mainland, lined up to see the spectacle.
One Hong Kong resident said: "I think this plane can compete with European or American aircraft. It feels like a new starting point for Chinese aviation, which has been falling behind. He added that if given the opportunity, he would like to be a passenger on one of the plane's flights.
In fact, the easiest way is to take a plane to Chengdu first, and fly to Shanghai to make a wish.
With the exception of aviation enthusiasts lining up at the water's edge – who make up the bulk of the visitors – other activities in the park continue as usual. People gather to play football, enjoy yoga, jog or do their morning exercises.
Residents and visitors can enjoy a close-up view of domestic aircraft on both sides of the harbour, including the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront and Kwun Tong, Quarry Bay, West Kowloon and the promenade in the Central and Western District.
Temporary restricted flight zones have been set up in and around Victoria Harbour to restrict activities such as flying drones, kites and tethered balloons. The jet flew twice over the port from west to east, at altitudes of about 450 and 300 meters.
After the flight, representatives of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the manufacturer of the aircraft, will talk to 200 young Hong Kongers at the headquarters of the civil aviation department in the afternoon.
The C919 is China's first domestically developed narrow-body airliner designed to compete with the Boeing 737 jet and the Airbus A320 family of single-aisle aircraft. It can carry from 158 to 192 passengers and is suitable for medium-haul routes with a range of 5555 km.
Another aircraft, the ARJ21, was COMAC's first narrow-body area jet powered by a turbofan engine. The aircraft debuted in 2016 and began international service in 2022, with a range of 3,700 km and a capacity of 78 to 97 passengers.
The two mainland-built airliners arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday in what the city's leader, John Lee, called a milestone in the country's aviation manufacturing industry and a demonstration of Beijing's support for the local aviation industry. The planes are scheduled to fly back to Shanghai on Sunday.