China's Female 'Top Guns'

China's female acrobatic pilots Yu Xu, Tao Jiali, Sheng Yifei, He Xiaoli have left for Malaysia on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, where they will be performing at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) next week. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

CCTV: China's first female J-10 pilots make overseas debut

Four female acrobatic pilots will perform at the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in Malaysia next week, in China-made J-10 fighters.

The four members of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force acrobatic team left for Malaysia on Wednesday in the J-10 fighter jets, said Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke.

Pilots Yu Xu, Tao Jiali, Sheng Yifei and He Xiaoli's stunt show will be the first time China's female fighter pilots have performed abroad, Shen said. The four women, with an average of more than 800 flight hours, participated in a high-profile military parade marking the People's Republic of China's 60th anniversary in 2009.

They also performed with J-10 fighters at the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, last November.

WNU Editor: As I had mentioned in the previous post .... the Chinese air force at least have their PR campaign right.

China In Search Of Its Own 'Top Guns'

Katie Hunt, CNN: Wanted: China's next top guns

Hong Kong (CNN)The search is on for China's teen top guns.

China said Monday it has selected 16 high schools to offer pilot training as the country's armed forces seek to attract better qualified recruits.

The schools, in 11 provinces across the country, will recruit 1,000 male junior high school students aged between 14 to 16, the China Daily reported.

Successful applicants will receive flight training and "military standard" physical training in addition to their regular high-school studies.

It's the latest attempt by the People's Liberation Army's air force to attract more talent.

WNU Editor: If the above video is any indication .... at least they are getting the PR campaign right.

The Chinese Air Force Are Now Posting Photo Galleries Of Their Planes

Tyler Rogoway, Foxtrot Alpha/Jalonik: These Stunning Photos Of China's Flankers Are A Sign Of Cultural Change

WNU Editor: They want to show-off like every other air force around the globe.

U.S. Air Force Pilots Are Afraid Of The New Chinese Stealth Fighter

An undated photo of the Shenyang-J-31

U.S. Pilots Say New Chinese Stealth Fighter Could Become Equal of F-22, F-35 -- USNI

China’s new Shenyang J-31 stealth fighter — making its debut next week at the Zhuhai international airshow — could eventually become more than a match for American stealth fighters in battle, several U.S. military and industry officials told USNI News.

The J-31 is China’s latest crack at developing a modern so-called fifth-generation stealth fighter — equivalent in ability to Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter.

“They’re still in the glossy brochure phase of development, so they still look ten feet tall and bulletproof,” one senior U.S. fighter pilot familiar with the F-35 program told USNI News.
“I think they’ll eventually be on par with our fifth gen jets — as they should be, because industrial espionage is alive and well.”

Read more ....

My Comment: For 70 years the U.S. Air Force has been the dominant global force in the air .... it looks like that age is now coming to an end.