Sunday, September 21, 2008

China's First Aircraft Carrier Pilots

Chinese Carrier (Conceptualized)

First Chinese Carrier Aviators -- Strategy Page

September 19, 2008: China announced that its first class of carrier aviators had begun training at the Dalian Naval Academy. The naval officers will undergo a four year course of instruction to turn them into fighter pilots capable of operating off a carrier. China already has an airfield, in the shape of a carrier deck, built at an inland facility. The Russians have warned China that it may take them a decade or more to develop the knowledge and skills needed to efficiently run an aircraft carrier. The Chinese are game, and are slogging forward.

Earlier this year, the Russian aircraft carrier Varyag was renamed the Shi Lang (after the Chinese general who took possession of Taiwan in 1681, the first time China ever paid any attention to the island) and given the pennant number 83. The Chinese have been refurbishing the Varyag, one of the Kuznetsov class that Russia began building in the 1980s, for several years now. It is expected to be ready for sea trials by the end of the year.

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1 comment:

Protocole Odessa said...

I was wondering when the Chinese would reveal their carrier capability, that is an awesome looking picture,

hopefully the new UK carriers will be equally as impressive.

check out my Navy photos here, got a few obscure ones in there
Carrier Photos