A second prototype of China's domestically developed C919 passenger jet finished a test flight in Shanghai on Sunday, another step forward in the country's ambitions to muscle in to the global jet market.
(Photo:China News Service/Yin Liqin)
It started its two-hour flight at 10:34 a.m. The flight initially examined the takeoff and landing performance of the aircraft and the functioning of the major systems and equipment. Retractable flaps, landing gear, navigation and communication systems were all examined, according to a note sent to the Global Times.
Its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) said it will have a total of six prototypes eventually conducting test flights, and more than 1,000 tests will be carried out.
COMAC will have test flights leaving from Dongying in East China's Shandong Province and Yanliang in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
The narrow-body aircraft, which will compete with Boeing's 737 and the Airbus A320, is a symbol of China's ambition to penetrate the global passenger jet market, estimated to be worth $2 trillion over the next 20 years.
The C919 made its maiden flight on May 5 this year. It completed its first long-distance flight on November 10, flying for 2 hours and 23 minutes from Shanghai to Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, covering more than 1,300 kilometers.
COMAC aims to obtain certification for the plane from Chinese regulators as well as Europe's aviation safety regulator, which agreed in April to start the certification process.
The plane has dozens of domestic and foreign customers that have placed orders and commitments for 785 jets, COMAC has said.
(Photo:China News Service/Yin Liqin)
(Photo:China News Service/Yin Liqin)
SHANGHAI (AP) — Valentin Vacherot beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters for the first title of his career after a stunning run from the qualifying rounds.
The 204th-ranked Vacherot, an unheralded 26-year-old, was the lowest-ranked tournament winner in ATP Masters 1000 history — and the first from the tiny Principality of Monaco.
“Just crying, it’s just isn’t real what just happened. I’ve no idea what’s happening right now,” Vacherot said moments after victory. “I think there are two winners today and just one family that won. I think for the sport of tennis this story’s just unreal.”
It was quite a performance, too.
He stunned 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals to set up a final against the 30-year-old Rinderknech, who had downed four-time major finalist Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, in a remarkable semifinal of his own.
Before toppling Djokovic — owner of 100 career titles and among the greatest men's players ever — Vacherot also beat tenth-seeded Holger Rune in the quarterfinals.
“It's only my fourth season on the tour. I think of all the work I've done,” Vacherot said. “To win today is completely crazy, I just can't believe it."
He produced a serving masterclass in the third set, with three straight love holds and 15 consecutive points before finally losing a point in the eighth game with an unforced error.
Serving to stay in the match at 15-40 down, Rinderknech saved one match point but Vacherot wrong-footed him with yet another blistering forehand winner down the line to clinch victory.
He held his face in his hands in disbelief before walking to the net to hug his cousin and then rushing to his team box to share a long hug with coach Benjamin Balleret, who is his half-brother and is a former tennis player from Monaco.
Balleret's career highlight was a defeat to tennis great Roger Federer in the early rounds of the Monte Carlo Masters in 2006.
Nineteen years later, Federer was in the Shanghai crowd watching as Rinderknech clinched the first set with an ace.
Balleret and Federer shook hands before Vacherot grabbed a red-and-white Monaco flag and displayed it on court. Then he wrote “Grandma and Grandpa would be proud” on a courtside camera.
“I tried to put it to one side that it’s my cousin, the guy that I’ve been growing up with,” Vacherot said. “In the first set I didn’t bring my ‘A’ game and Arthur was playing better than me.”
Monaco's biggest sporting star is Fomula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, who has won eight races among his 48 podiums.
Vacherot will shoot up the rankings and inside the Top 50 on Monday.
He secured an early break in the decider and then missed four break-point chances in the fifth game as Rinderknech got a reprieve. The Frenchman immediately took a three-minute medical timeout for massage treatment on his back and then his left shoulder.
But there was nothing he could do to stop his cousin's momentum.
Rinderknech appeared troubled by heavy cramps and — after giving his runner-up speech — had to sit down as his cousin addressed the crowd.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Valentin Vacherot of Monaco celebrates with the trophy after winning the final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament defeating Arthur Rinderknech of France at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Winner Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, right, and Arthur Rinderknech of France, embrace on the winners podium after the final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Valentin Vacherot of Monaco celebrates with the trophy after winning the final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament defeating Arthur Rinderknech of France at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Arthur Rinderknech of France is attended to by a trainer, as he plays against Valentin Vacherot of Monaco during the final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Arthur Rinderknech of France hits a return to Valentin Vacherot of Monaco during the final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Arthur Rinderknech of France hits a return to Valentin Vacherot of Monaco during the final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Valentin Vacherot of Monaco celebrates after winning the final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament, defeating Arthur Rinderknech of France at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
