The C919 & ARJ21 — the first aircraft designed and developed in China — landed in Hong Kong after their first overseas flights outside the Mainland. Both planes were greeted at the Hong Kong International Airport with a ceremonial water salute after they touched down in the city. There will be a welcoming ceremony at the apron of the Hong Kong International Airport, after which both planes will go on display at the airport until December 15.
The C919 will go on a fly-past over Victoria Harbour on December 16. The airplane will take off from the airport at 10.30am and fly east towards the harbour and will fly over the area twice. Government authorities said that the public can get the best views of the plane from locations on either side of the harbour, such as the Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront, Kwun Tong Promenade, Quarry Bay Promenade, West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, the Central and Western District Promenade, and Golden Bauhinia Square.
During the demonstration flight, authorities will set up a temporary restricted flying zone over the harbour and will prohibit activities such as flying drones, model aircraft and kites, and setting up tethered balloons. Both planes will return to Mainland China on December 17.
The ARJ21 is the first narrow-body regional jet aircraft developed by COMAC, while the C919 is a narrow-body airplane that can seat 158-192 passengers, and is comparable with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. While the ARJ21 has been in service since 2016, the C919 first took to the skies earlier this year.
Image credits: GovHK
