This is a Notable Operational milestone.
Under authority of the Chinese PLAAF, the first locally assembled Z-9 example (c/n Z-9-0001) took flight.
The exact month and day are unknown and will be updated.
Yefim Gordon, Dmitriy Kommissarov. Chinese Aircraft: China's Aviation Industry Since 1951. Hikoki Publications Ltd., 2008. Pg. 275. Print.