THE 6th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) took place October 31-November 5 at Airshow Center in Zhuhai, with 550 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions participating. The airshow had 17,000sqm in net exhibition area, 500,000sqm in parking space and 7,643sqm in commercial and chalet areas.

As the only state-endorsed trade show in China, Airshow China has the full support of the government and Chinese Aviation & Aerospace industries. With a tremendous rise in the number of exhibitors and total exhibition space in 2004, more than 500 aerospace companies from 32 countries were represented, and $4.5 billion worth of business was concluded. 

China showed off military muscle

CHINA displayed its military might by exhibiting a series of brand-new precision assault weapons at the airshow. The weapons included precision-guided bombs and long-range strike systems hailed by military experts as symbols that the PLA has entered an era of precision attack. In a rare collective appearance, the airshow also brought together a number of new air, naval and surface-to-surface missiles, reports said.

For example, the LT-2 500km laser-guided bomb and the LS-6 glide-guided bomb, developed by China Aviation Industry Corp I, both debuted at the show. They were designed on the basis of traditional bombs, reports said.

China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp showcased two types of precision-guided bombs -- the FT-1 and FT-3 -- which enjoy a high percentage of hits and can be widely used for short-distance air raids and blockage, and also disrupt enemy air defence and cripple naval ships, reports said.

China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp (CASIC), another state-owned weapons manufacturer, exhibited 20 types of missiles, Xinhua News Agency reported. The P12 strategic missile system developed by CASIC was regarded as the most intriguing and eye-catching item on display.

Yin Xingliang, CASIC general manager, said China's missile systems reached the technical level of developed countries in the late 1990s. He also said CASIC had worked for peaceful utilization of technologies in both the military and civilian aviation industries.

Flying demos slated

Russian Air Force Knights Aerobatic Team performs in 2006. [Photo by Yu Yanmin / Provided to China Daily]

The Russian Knights Aerobatic Flight Team staged a comeback after a six-year absence. The team, consisting of five SU-27 fighter jets from the Russian Air Force, displayed stunt-flying techniques including swooping down, flying head to head, mid-air rolling or flying backwards. 

The British Golden Dreams Aerobatic Team had four golden yellow aeroplanes, which lightened the air over Zhuhai with thrilling techniques in formation. 

In addition, the FTC-2000, MA60, AIRSHIP, LE-500, /Y-12E, Z-9, Z-11, SR22 G2, Cessna 172R, Cessna 172P, Cessna 172R, Robinson R-22, Robinson R-44, Eurocopter EC-120, BAW-2U, ABJ-503, “Flying Dragon” Airship, Trinidad TB21 and others performed flying displays daily during the show.