Jiang Zonglin introduces the R&D of shockwave hypersonic wind tunnel to the media press in 2012. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A world-leading aerospace society has awarded its top prize on ground testing to a Chinese scientist for the first time, demonstrating China's great strides in the field, academic journal Acta Aerodynamica Sinica reported recently.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) presented the Ground Testing Award 2016 to Jiang Zonglin, a scientist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led China's R&D in the JF12 shockwave hypersonic wind tunnel.

Jiang was the first Asian scholar to get the Ground Testing Award, first established in 1975.

The Award is presented to the individual with outstanding achievements in flight simulation, space simulation, propulsion testing, aerodynamic testing, or other ground testing associated with aeronautics and astronautics, according to AIAA’s website.

Jiang was awarded for "skillful leadership in conceiving, developing and successful commissioning of the world's largest shock tunnel capable of true hypersonic flight simulation".

In May 2012, China opened the JF12 shockwave hypersonic wind tunnel. Known internationally as the "Hyper Dragon", JF12 is the largest of its kind in the world that can replicate flying conditions between Mach 5 and Mach 9.

The wind tunnel overcame the scientific hurdle that has thwarted global scientists and engineers for about six decades. According to Chinese Academy of Sciences, JF12 is a 265-metre long tunnel that can replicate flying conditions at an altitude of 25 to 50 km.

As wind tunnel is the basic research that decides how advanced aircraft may be developed, Jiang's achievement is a new scientific breakthrough in China's aeronautics and astronautics industry, the academic journal said.

Created in 1963 by the merger of the two great aerospace societies of the day, the American Rocket Society and the Institute of the Aerospace Sciences(AIAA) is the world's largest technical society dedicated to the global aerospace profession.

The Ground Testing Award is presented annually at the AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum with the nomination deadline by October 1 of the previous year.

Panorama of JF12 shockwave hypersonic wind tunnel at Chinese national key laboratory Qian Xuesen Engineering Science Experiment Base in Huairou district, Beijing, July 26, 2013. [Photo/Chinanews.com]