The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's air force is expected to hog the spotlight with its distinctive aerobatics at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition which is scheduled to take place in Zhuhai City of south China's Guangdong Province from Nov 12 to 17.
This is the first time that the PLA Navy has participated in the event, also known as Airshow China.
Chen Xinmeng, a designer of the aerial performances at the airshow and also a navy staff member from the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command, noted two important features of this debut naval warplane performance.
One is "buddy refueling", a naval aerial refueling method where fuel is transferred from one aircraft to another while both aircraft are in flight, while the other is "carrier landing", which focuses on carrying out a precise touchdown on an aircraft carrier, one of the most difficult operations for navy pilots, according to Chen.
"In designing the two maneuvers, we aimed to showcase the unique features of our shipborne aircraft during the navy's first participation in the Zhuhai airshow. The display includes two main parts: the buddy refueling technique and the maneuver for the carrier landing," said Chen.
To ensure a smooth aerobatic display and highlight the naval aircraft in a short time, the whole naval aerobatic team must undergo rigorous training to optimize formation spacing, flight height, maneuver designs and flight routes, along with close collaboration with the ground crew.
"In an aerial display, one thing is to get the timing right, and the other is to perform precisely and coordinate well. It's like a National Day parade: if a plane is half a minute or a few seconds late reaching its designated spot, the audience might notice a gap in the performance. If it arrives early, it could disrupt the previous aircraft's performance," said Chen.
Airshow China is a highly anticipated event that provides visitors from around the globe with a chance to witness China's expanding military and civilian aviation industry. For Chen, as a member of the Chinese navy, it is also an honor to demonstrate the strength and sophistication of the navy's aircraft at the event.
"I feel honored and proud to showcase our naval aviation to China and the world. Notably, the J-15D will make its public debut at the Zhuhai airshow," she said.
Director of China's naval aerial display at Zhuhai airshow explains performance features
