Even the name was carefully crafted: "C" stands for China as well as COMAC; the first "9" means "forever", since the word for "nine" sounds like "forever" in Chinese; and the "19" represents the fact that the plane can host 190 passengers.
Although China has lagged behind its Western rivals in aircraft development, it boasts the world's fastest-growing aviation market, which will eventually overtake the United States.
Commentators are divided on the potential for the plane, but some argue it could pose a major threat to the current Boeing/Airbus duopoly in large commercial aircraft.
The narrow-body C919 jet - white with green and blue stripes - disappeared into the clouds after taking off from Pudong worldwide airport in the commercial hub Shanghai as a crowd of thousands cheered, including top officials.
The 80-minute flight was greeted with applause by more than 1,000 spectators on the tarmac, including Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai and Shanghai Communist Party chief Han Zheng.
The narrow-body twin-engine jet is meant to compete against Airbus A320 neo, Boeing 737 MAX, Bombardier and other next-generation single-aisle airliners.
China's first regional commercial aircraft ARJ21 began commercial operation in June 2016.
The C919 would be the first major competitor for Airbus SE and Boeing Co.in the most popular sector of the airliner market and gives Comac a home advantage in what is set to become the world's biggest aircraft market.
The C919 jet was built at a reported development cost of $8.6 billion.
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US officials are also asking China to urge more China-friendly ASEAN members, such as Laos and Cambodia, to do the same. The top USA diplomat said Washington is preparing additional sanctions if North Korea's actions warrant them.
In a letter of congratulation to the C919 project, the State Council said: "The successful maiden flight of the C919 marks a milestone for China's aviation industry".
However, the C919 is not the first Chinese-assembled modern commercial jetliner to take to the skies.
Boeing estimates that the country will need a trillion dollars worth of new airplanes over the next two decades, including more than 5,100 of the same size as the C919.
The plane still relies on a wide array of imported technology though, it is for instance powered by engines from French-US supplier CFM International. Its engines were made by a joint venture between General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines.
Bao Pengli, deputy director of Comac's project management department, said Thursday the manufacturer planned to make two planes a year from now to 2019 to obtain proof of safe flight, before any mass production would be started.
At least in the early years of service, demand will be centered in the Chinese market and a few satellite markets, said Royce, adding that Airbus and Boeing have spent decades competing fiercely against each other and are lean and mean in the airliner market.
COMCAR already has 570 orders from 23 clients but aviation website Airline Reporter points out that most-apart from 20 orders from GECAS, an aviation asset management service-are from other state-owned Chinese airlines and questions remain over whether the C919s will have global appeal.
Previously, Comac had said that 21 customers had placed orders for more than 500 planes by the end of 2016 and that it expected sales to exceed 2,000 in the near future.
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