August 1st (aerobatic team)

The August 1st or Ba Yi Aerobatics Team (Chinese: 八一飞行表演队) is the aerobatic demonstration team of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It was founded in 1962 and named after the date of founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), August 1, 1927.

August 1st Aerobatic Team
J-10 (August 1st aerobatic team)
Active1962 – present
Country China
Branch People's Liberation Army Air Force
RoleAerobatic Display
Garrison/HQYangcun Air Base (Meichong) ( 39°22′24″N, 117°5′42″E )
Nickname(s)Bayi
ColorsWhite and Red; formerly White and Blue (with red star on the tail fin)
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Aircraft flown
Fighter8 Chengdu J-10

History

It is named after the date of the founding of the PLA (August 1, 1927), and is a part of the PLAAF Beijing Military Region. The unit was founded in 1962 and has over the years performed more than 500 times for delegations from 166 countries and regions. Its first show abroad happened in August 2013 during the Russian airshow MAKS.[1]

Aircraft

The August 1st aerobatic team (Ba Yi aerobatic team) initially equipped the fleet with JJ-5 fighter-trainer jets, a Chinese version of Russian made MiG-17. In later years the JJ-5s were replaced by Chengdu J-7EB, then again was replaced by the newer J-7GB (2001). There are about 8 aircraft in the fleet, but only 6 are set for any airshow.

In May 2009, the team upgraded their jets to the much more advanced Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter.[2]

Base
  • The aerobatics team is based out of Yangcun Air Force Base (Meichong) near Tianjin, home to the 24th Fighter Division.[3]

Appearances

Accidents
  • June 1997 – 3 aircraft crash in Tianjin during a practice session
  • 15 September 1998 – single aircraft crashes near Chongming Island Airport near Shanghai
  • July 14, 2009 – Number 3 wing which was a J-7GB crashed at Yang Cun airbase during practicing session, while preparing for the coming National Day demonstration on October 1st.
  • 12 November 2016 – Captain Yu Xu, first female J-10 pilot, was killed in an accident during training in Hebei province.[6]

References
  1. PLA aerobatic team to perform in Russia
  2. Chinese J-10 Fighters Debut as New Acrobatic Aircraft
  3. Hussain, Haris (21 March 2015). "The mystique of China's J-10 fighter". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  4. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1931967/1-chinese-fighter-jets-arrive-pakistan-participate-pakistan-day-parade/?amp=1
  5. "Smoke used aerial display of China's Ba Yi aerobatics team not harmful, say organisers of Singapore Airshow". The Online Citizen. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  6. "Woman fighter pilot inspired nation". China Daily. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.


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