Flight instructor to participate in V-day parade with students

Guan Jian, a flight instructor of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), has been chosen to fly a helicopter in the grand V-Day military parade in Beijing on September 3 with a number of pilots whom he has coached.

Scheduled to take place in Tian'anmen Square of downtown Beijing, the military parade is to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Guan Jian, now 43 years old, is a member of the aerial echelon of the parade. He was chosen for his outstanding performances in many challenging missions, including high-altitude flying and testing flights for novel equipment.

In trainings for the parade, he has again played a key role with his proficient skills and tactical expertise.

For him, every small effort could be a key point in his growth to become an excellent military aircraft pilot.

"As my flight hours add up more and more, and after I conducted various different missions and went through various dangers, I came to see that flying is a very rigorous endeavor, and you have to deal with every flight as your first one. Each ascent should be my first experience, and every flight is a 'key' moment for me," said Guan.

As a flight instructor with 4,500 hours of flight experience, Guan's unique teaching methods have been well acclaimed. He has cultivated a group of outstanding flight commanders over the years, and many of them have also been chosen for previous military parades, while the V-Day parade this year marks Guan's first ever participation in such a grand parade, fulfilling his long-held dream.

"Guan has always played a key cogwheel role in our team, providing the key strength for the team's advancement. He shared his notebook with us in which he summed up his experience 10 years ago, and things he wrote on it could be used directly. We are happy for him heartily. After all, he has been flying for so many years, and finally it's time for him to fulfill his dream. We are also very happy and honored that the four of us, the instructor and his apprentices, all participate in the parade together," said Hou Qinchen, another pilot chosen for the parade who used to study with Guan.

"Having learned that my apprentices are also here to participate in the parade, I also feel very happy. Our aviation undertaking is a process of carrying on and holding up. We will ultimately fade off and step down the stage of history, so I want to do my utmost to pass all my skills down to the next generation of pilots as quickly as possible," said Guan.

Since he took on the parade mission, Guan has led his team to achieve perfect training scores, even in the most challenging flying conditions.

"I feel very honored to receive the review by the nation and the people. This parade for me is a key moment. First and foremost, I'm full of confidence. We have good teamwork in keeping our formation, very unified and standard. I believe that we are bound to give the best performance in the parade," he said.

Flight instructor to participate in V-day parade with students

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3D printing ushers in new era of instant manufacturing