Huge planes, fighter jets, more coming to air show

AVIC AG600, the third member of China's "large aircraft family," will join freighter Y-20 and passenger aircraft C919 in an exhibition at November's Airshow China 2018.

Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), China's largest aerospace manufacturer, made the announcement on Sept 10.

Airshow China, or the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, is the only international aerospace trade show in the country. Held biennially, it returns to host city Zhuhai from Nov 6 to 11 at the Zhuhai Airshow Center in Jinwan District.

AG600, the largest amphibian aircraft in the world, made its ground-based public debut at Airshow China two years ago, and its appearance this year will be a welcome return, even though it is still undergoing on-water testing.

Large-type passenger C919 [Xinhua News Agency]

The second appearance of the China-made stealth fighter, J-20, is also slated, as is that of J-30, a fourth-generation jet fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corp.

In addition, more than 40 of AVIC's 140 exhibits will debut state-of-the-art technologies and products. Any models that can be disclosed will be part of the show, according to a senior AVIC publicity official.

The airshow demonstrates the strength of China's aviation industry and ability to independently develop advanced aviation equipment.

AVIC’s exhibition is titled Going Global. It will be divided into two, one featuring business expansion along the Belt & Road and the other highlighting aircraft types sought by overseas market after successful international cooperation.

The group is looking forward to joining in the big aviation "party" again, hoping to expand business ties, meet industry leaders, and discuss technology trends. It hopes to benefit from Zhuhai's improved service guarantees that provide an increasingly better environment for a thriving aviation industry, claimed an executive.

AVIC J-20 stealth fighter

Y-20 heavy transport aircraft [Photos provided by AVIC]

Homegrown AG600 on first flight in Zhuhai on Dec 24, 2017 [File Photo]