China opportunities excite global aviation industry

BEIJING - China's aim to become a major aviation player is injecting impetus and opportunities into the global aviation industry.

The country is sending clear signals of seeking win-win cooperation with the world as well as mastering key technologies.

Leapfrog progress

"Multiple critical technological breakthroughs bring China's capacities in aviation equipment to a new high," said Yang Wei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and vice president of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

China showed its aviation advances at the 2018 China Airshow, in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong province, in November.

The biennial event is a gathering of all major global aviation players, such as Boeing, Airbus, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney and Safran etc..

China's independently-developed J-10B thrust-vectoring control (TVC) demonstrator, the J-20 stealth fighter, the Y-20 military transporter and the Wing Loong UAS (unmanned aircraft system) series were on display.

"These showed the achievements of dedicated professionals in the aircraft and engine development fields, as well as excellent test flight teams," said Yang, who is also the J-20 chief designer and head of J-10B TVC project.

Aviation insiders from around the world witnessed post-stall maneuvers, such as a "J-turn," "falling leaf" and "Pugachev's cobra," performed by a J-10B TVC demonstrator.

State-owned aviation giant AVIC exhibited 134 products, including 37 on show for the first time.

Moreover, China's independently-developed Modern Ark 700 turboprop regional aircraft, AC helicopter series, Z-10 armed helicopter also appeared at the airshow.

The Wing Loong UAS family, China's star products in the global military market, comprised the Wing Loong I, Wing Loong II and Wing Loong I-D.

It was the first public display of the Wing Loong I-D, which has a fuselage made completely of composite material.

"Wing Loong UAS was developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute (CADI) of AVIC," said chief designer Li Yidong. "We designed the UAS with long-term experience in the development of high-end manned aircraft and understand the needs of international customers through in-depth cooperation."