Maiden flight China took a major step toward becoming a global aviation powerhouse as its homegrown large passenger plane, the C919, took to the sky on Friday. The flight makes China the fourth jumbo* jet producer after the United States, Western Europe and Russia. It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the C919. The twin-engine plane departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with a crew of five on board but no passengers. Renowned scientist dies Renowned mathematician* Wu Wenjun died on Sunday at the age of 98 in Beijing. Wu became well known in the field of mathematics in the late 1940s for his contribution to research on topology*, one of the major areas of mathematics. Later, Wu devoted his attention to research on mechanical geometry theorem proof*, using computers to prove complicated and time-consuming geometrical theorems. More online ticket sales The Palace Museum in Beijing, also known as the Forbidden City, will expand the sale of online tickets on a trial basis in July. After the trial period, the Palace Museum will decide whether to phase out* the sale of paper tickets and sell all tickets via the Internet. The all-online sale may begin during the last 10 days of October. Currently, tourists can only book tickets online in advance, but they have to buy paper tickets at the entrances if they want to visit immediately. Bullet trains China is working on next-generation bullet trains with a maximum operational speed of 400 kilometers per hour that will be ready by 2020 for markets linked to the Belt and Road Initiative’s vision, the country’s top railway vehicle maker said. “We will apply new materials in the research and production of the future high-speed trains, such as carbon fiber* and aluminum alloy*, which will help reduce weight and enhance energy efficiency,” said Qiao Feng, a senior engineer at the CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co. The new trains will be available in Belt and Road Initiative markets. (SD-Agencies) | 