THE prototype of the home-grown Advanced Regional Jet 21 is expected to debut next month at an aeronautics exhibition in Shanghai, Xinhua news agency reported today.

The plane is in final assembly at Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory's workshop in Baoshan District. The first test flight is scheduled for March after the Shanghai plant completes the first jet off the production line by the end of this year.

Shanghai Aircraft's assembly plant is affiliated to China Aviation Industry Corporation One. It will be able to assemble 50 planes a year although yearly output of 30 planes is anticipated during the first phase.

The ARJ 21 is the first jet for regional flights completely designed and made in China.

A Chinese mainland license for commercial flights will be issued in September 2009, while producer CAIC 1 begins to deliver the jets to buyers. The firm has received 41 orders for the advanced regional jet, according to the newspaper.

Premier Wen Jiabao announced in March that China will launch the development of trunk line planes in five years.

Compared with trunk liners, which have at least 150 seats, the ARJ21 is designed to have two variants with a capacity between 70 to 100 passengers.

All of its components are to be manufactured by Chinese companies in other provinces before they are sent to Shanghai for final assembly.