Pilots' Aspirations

Wei Xing, a bomber pilot from the PLA Air Force, said he will fly his aircraft as part of a bomber formation during the coming parade.

"Flying in a parade is quite challenging — it requires skill, full attention, flawless teamwork, and quick responsiveness. It is a test of how well your daily training has prepared you," said Wei, one of the Air Force's elite bomber aviators and commander of a bomber regiment.

"To better prepare for each flight, we have made detailed plans covering every flight maneuver, and we do extensive ground training. Up in the air, the entire crew must work closely to ensure the mission is accomplished smoothly," he explained.

Participating in the parade will help pilots like Wei improve their airmanship and strengthen overall operational capability.

"In the past, the Chinese military didn't have advanced weaponry, but Chinese soldiers never succumbed to challenges and hardship. Now, with cutting-edge hardware, we, today's service members, will march toward victory confidently and proudly," the pilot stated.

Kang Kai, a female fighter aviator with the Air Force, said that flying a domestically built, advanced fighter in the parade is not only a personal honor but also a chance to fulfill a commitment she made 13 years ago to her predecessors.

"In March 1952, 14 female pilots from the Air Force, the first Chinese women trained to fly since the founding of New China in 1949, operated six transport planes to fly through Tian'anmen Square. The event was witnessed by Chairman Mao Zedong and other top leaders. In 2012, the Central Military Commission held a massive ceremony in Beijing to mark the 60th anniversary of their historic flight, and I was honored to attend," she recalled.