The first crop of Chinese female air force pilots completed their first solo flights in the nation’s most advanced fighter jet, making China the world’s 16th nation with women fighter pilots.
Five female pilots completed solo flights on the J-10 multi-role jets on July 29 and 30 from an airfield in north China, the PLA Daily reported Wednesday.
The J-10, designed and produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp. — nicknamed “Vigorous Dragon” — is built for both air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions.
The five women were among China’s first class of 16 female fighter pilots who have been serving in air force’s combat units after graduating from flight colleges in 2009.
One of the pilots is He Xiaoli who participated in a fly-over of Tian’anmen Square during the National Day Parade on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Having undergone the same strict training regimen as male pilots, the female pilots are qualified to perform the same missions as their male counterparts men can, said group instructor Wang Qin.
Those female pilots have completed various missions, ranging from flying transport planes, conducting air detection to fighting in military exercise or providing rescue and relief work in emergencies.
China began to recruit female combat pilots for the air force in 2005 in keeping with the global trend of allowing women to participate in aerial combat roles. Female fighter pilots have also become the talent pool for China’s astronaut corps. Liu Yang, China’s first woman in space, served as a female pilot in the air force before being selected as an astronaut.
China plans to train female pilots to fly bombers, early-warning aircraft and tanker aircraft, as well as fighter jets. Female pilots were first allowed to enroll in flight schools in 1951 in China. So far nearly 500 women have received flight training.
Female fighter pilots are currently serving in 15 nations in addition to China, including the United States, Russia, S. Korea, Britain, Germany, Spain, Israel and Pakistan.
