What China’s first commercial airliner maiden flight means for 3D printing tech?

(May 23): The first China built commercial airliner C919 took its maiden flight on May 5 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Besides marking a historical moment in China’s aviation industry, the C919 was developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), who used 3D printing technologies and specialty metals like titanium alloys in the developments of the airliner.

COMAC designed and assembled C919 in Shanghai while the parts of the airliner were manufactured by different suppliers in China. Front parts and wings were made in Chengdu and Xi’an. The main body parts were made in Nanchang. However, critical parts were still made by foreign suppliers such as CFM International, Liebher-Aerospace, FACC and Honeywell.

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