Superjet made-in-China: First look inside the C919 passenger plane as the country's home-made airliner makes its worldwide debut

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China unveiled its first-ever passenger jet built and designed by the country today.

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (COMAC), which is the state-owned aviation manufacturer, unveiled the first C919 aircraft at its factory in Shanghai, the People's Daily Online reports.

China - the second largest economy in the world - is now seeking the prestige of having its own aviation sector, and to challenge foreign giants Airbus and Boeing for market share. 

The first C919 passenger jet is rolled out at the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd

Former Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang waves to onlookers as he walks out of the first Chinese passenger plane

The single-aisle narrow-body jet is designed to seat 168 passengers, and has a standard flight range of 2,532 miles (4,075 kilometres), which means the aircraft can fly non-stop from Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur or from New York City to Los Angeles.

Its debut is considered by Chinese media as a breakthrough in the history of the country's civil aviation industry as well as the start of a new chapter in China's high-end equipment manufacturing.

Journalists have already compared the brand new aircraft with the famous Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 passenger planes. 

A grand ceremony was held in COMAC's brand new factory in Pudong, Shanghai, to celebrate what Chinese experts are calling 'a great moment.'

COMAC chairman Jin Zhuanglong said at the ceremony: 'The roll out of the first C919 aircraft marks a significant milestone in the development of China's first indigenous aircraft.'

The made-in-China aircraft is due to make its maiden flight next year and then begin test flights for about three years before being put into commercial use.

COMAC is yet to release the price tag of the jet, but a report by China National Radio in June predicted that C919 was likely to be priced at £32 million (US$50 million), which was up to 30 per cent cheaper than a Boeing 737 or an Airbus 320. 

Thousand of aviation and industry experts gathered for the revealing of the C919 in Pudong, Shanghai, today

The narrow-body jet designed to seat 168 passengers is displayed at a facility in commercial hub in Shanghai

China Central Television, the country's national TV station, was given special permission to board the first C919 jet at the ceremony and filmed the interiors. 

Video footage showed the cockpit was fully equipped and, according to the reporter, its piloting system was more similar to Airbus planes.

The cabin remained largely empty and was padded with a layer of cotton insulation. Four large boxes have been installed in the cabin for collecting data during test flights.

COMAC chairman Jin Zhuanglong said the plane is expected to have its first test flight in 2016, which means it will miss the original deadline of this year.

The China Daily newspaper has reported the first flight could even be put back to 2017.

So far, a total of 517 aircrafts have been ordered by 21 customer's home and abroad.

Speaking in front of an audience of industry and government officials, the country's civil aviation chief Li Jiaxiang said: 'China's air transport industry cannot completely rely on imports. A great nation must have its own large commercial aircraft.'

A CCTV presenter showed the interior of C919 during the unveiling ceremony(left). The pilots gear stick inside the cockpit of first C919 cockpit (right)

Many people are seen celebrating at the revealing of the C919 passenger jet plane in Shanghai today 

As well as hundreds of industry experts at the presentation, celebrities where there to show support, including retired Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang.

China has dreamed of building its own civil aircraft since the 1970s when Jiang Qing, leader Mao Zedong's wife and a member of the notorious 'Gang of four' personally backed an attempt to do so.

Y-10, a four-engine passenger jet, started developing in 1970. But due to the project's high financial commitment, the development was halted by the central government in 1986. Only three Y-10s were ever made.

The jet is rolled out to a massive audience as it is revealed behind schedule. The first flight is expected in 2016

Retired Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang takes a selfie in front of China's first self-developed large passenger jetliner

Although the C919 is made in China, foreign firms are playing key roles by supplying systems as well as the engines, which are made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric (GE) of the US and France's Safran. 

COMAC also plans a wide-body plane, the C929, in cooperation with Russia's United Aircraft Corp.

Speculation is mounting that China will create a new aero-engine entity to try to produce the powerful jets needed for large civil aircraft. 

According to Airbus' Global Market Forecast 2015, in the next 20 years, passenger air traffic will grow annually at 4.6 percent driving a need for around 32,600 new passenger and freighter aircrafts.

China will become the leading country for passenger air traffic with its domestic traffic to become the world' s number one within ten years, said the forecast.

China is seeking to develop its own aviation sector and challenge foreign industry giants with the C919

A worker directs the people taking the plane out of the hub ready for its unveiling in front of thousands

The COMAC hub in Shanghai where China's first passenger jet was presented to excited crowds