THE 2nd China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition was held November 15-22 with 500 exhibitors and 800,000 visitors. More than 100 aeroplanes were exhibited and 30 technical and trading agreements signed. The top 20 global aviation and aerospace companies including Boeing, Airbus, Daimler Chrysler, Rolls-Royce and GIFAS France showed up. CAAC, CAIC and China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp dominated the Chinese aviation and aerospace sector.

1. There was an introductory display of Xi’an’s “Fighter-Bomber-China-1,” or “FBC-1,” which is an indigenously produced fighter-bomber design. The FBC-1 "Flying Leopard" was characterized in airshow reports as a “multi-mission all-weather supersonic fighter bomber fully independently developed by China.” With takeoff weight of 28 tonnes, the plane is 22 metres long, 13 metres wide and 6 metres high. The Z-11, Y7-200A, Z-9G and K8 advances along with the Long March series of carrier rockets were also showcased. 

2. The Chinese “August 1st” aerobatics team showed off for the first time in public and staged aerial performance with international counterparts.

3. The Russian Knights Aerobatic Flight Team, the only in the world performing group aerobatics in the “heavy fighter” category, thrilled onlookers with six Su-27 flanker naval strike fighters swooping down, looping and hedgehopping. They also performed the stunning Viktor Pugachev's Cobra aerial demonstration at the end of the flight.

4. Non-touch Smart Card technology was adopted to the admission tickets for the first time. Some visitors made every effort to collect the full eight designs with a total value of 1,760 yuan ($213).

5. The 8,000sqm Press Centre was officially launched at this airshow, ending the open-air work of journalists.

Press conference(1) in 1998 [Photo by Yan Xing / Provided to China Daily]

Press conference(2) in 1998 [Photo by Yan Xing / Provided to China Daily]

Airshow spectators in 1998 [Photo by Yan Xing / Provided to China Daily]

Directing traffic in 1998 [Photo by Yan Xing / Provided to China Daily]

Then senior city officials at lunch time in 1998 [Photo by Yan Xing / Provided to China Daily]

A visitor shoots aerobatic display in 1998. [Photo by Yan Xing / Provided to China Daily]

Dispatch staff in 1998 [Photo by Yan Xing / Provided to China Daily]