The jumbo jet that has a flight delay of eight years

It won't see the light of day until 2014, and you can't buy one until 2016. But a lot of pushing is going on at the moment.

It's all part of China's drive for developing advanced-tech products. With the long-haul market sewn up by Airbus and Boeing, China wants to be next in line to take on the big boys. It works alphabetically. But can they actually do it?

There is just a hint of old-style communist self-sufficiency about the project. But Shanghai lives in the real world.

Although the long-term goal is to have everything made in China, including the engines, most of the components will be sourced internationally for some time.

This is the model already used with the ARJ21, China's other civil aircraft project.

The Advanced Regional Jet for the 21st century, rather more romantically known as the "circling phoenix" in Chinese, is a 70-seat regional aircraft that had its maiden flight last November.

Also Shanghai-based, its many international suppliers are lining up again for the jumbo.

With the design finalised, the jumbo's parent, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), is stepping up activity.

Earlier this month, it opened the assembly factory for the project. It's an expansion of the one already used for the ARJ21 in Shanghai.

Most importantly, the baby now has a name. It's the C919. Rather more prosaic than its older sister's but not without meaning.

Apparently C is for China or Comac, 9 because it sounds like the word for a long time and 19 because it will carry 190 passengers.

Since the basic configuration will be 168 seats, that may be stretching it a bit.

Not much happens in Shanghai these days without an Expo angle. Minhang district has recently enlisted the help of senior citizens to keep things "cultural".

Pairs of seventysomething residents, mainly female, stand guard on the litter bins. Heaven help anyone who uses them incorrectly or, even worse, not at all.

People have nightmares here about the temperature police. These masked figures in white romper suits appear whenever you land in Shanghai. Their red laser guns scan foreheads.

If they find a hot one, then pray it's not near you. Not only the suspect but anyone within three rows on the plane is off to quarantine for a week.