Zhuhai air show opens with orders for COMAC and a glimpse of a future spaceplane

China's aerospace ambitions took centre stage on the first day of the Zhuhai air show, with COMAC announcing Air China as the first customer for its C929 widebody jet, while a model of the country's first commercial uncrewed spaceplane was on display. China's Bayi aerobatics team, a flight of four J-20 stealth jets, and the public debut of the country's J-35A stealth fighter were among the aircraft soaring overhead as attendees strolled across the airfield tarmac. State-owned COMAC also said its regional jet, previously known as the ARJ21, had been improved and rebranded as the C909 for better branding uniformity across its aircraft. "After careful consideration, a long gestation and asking opinions of many involved parties, we chose to use C909 as the new commercial name to build the brand," Zhang Xiaoguang, COMAC's marketing director, told reporters. The C909, unveiled at China's biggest airshow painted in white with a blue tail, has also reduced weight, resistance and noise as well as some improvements in flying costs compared to the ARJ21, staff at COMAC's air show booth told Reuters. COMAC did not disclose the number of C929s that flag carrier Air China would purchase or planned delivery dates. But it announced that Hainan Airlines had placed a firm order for 60 C919 narrowbody jets and 40 C909s. Colorful Guizhou Airlines has signed a purchase agreement for 30 C909 planes, 20 of which were firm and the remainder provisional, it added.<br/>