PLA aerobatic team to star at Moscow airshow

Three J-10 fighters of the PLA August 1st Air Demonstration Team fly over Russia on August 21, 2013. The team, China's first and best-known aerobatic flight display team, arrived in Russia on Wednesday to join its Russian counterpart at the MAKS 2013 International Air Show at Ramenskoye Airport from August 27 to September 1. This is the team's first overseas performance in its 51-year existence. [Photo: CNS / Shen Jinke]

The Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force will join with its Russian counterpart at the 11th Moscow Airshow at the Ramenskoye Airport in Moscow, Russia between August 27 and September 1.

Since it was established 51 years ago, the team has performed for 668 delegations from 166 countries and regions, but the Moscow tour marks the team's first show abroad.

The participation will help strengthen political ties, mutual military trust, and cooperation between the armed forces of China and Russia, said Zhuang Kezhu, commander of the air force of the Beijing Military Area Command.

The Bayi team was initially equipped with J-5's and has been gradually updating the fleet. The third generation of home-built J-10 fighters made their maiden appearance at the 7th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in 2008.