By Li Hongmei

The first testing platform for China's first jumbo jet meant to compete against Airbus A320, Boeing 737 and Russian MS-21 started operating in Shanghai this morning, marking a milestone for China's aviation program.

The platform named "iron bird," a plane-like fuselage simulator, will mainly test the flying controls, hydraulic pressure and undercarriage systems of the C919 jet.

The C919 is due to make its first flight in 2014 and enter service a year later. It is the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China since the Shanghai Y-10, which was designed in the 1970s.

The 150-seat Chinese-made aircraft has won 330 orders from carriers from both home and abroad.

The assembly center in Shanghai will be able to deliver the first C919 aircraft, with a flight range of 4,075 kilometers, in 2015, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China said.

China is investing 200 billion yuan in developing its domestic jumbo jet.