(1 Nov 2016) LEAD IN:
Aviation fans have been given a rare glimpse of the J-20 stealth fighter jet at one of the biggest air shows in Asia.
But for many at the International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in China it's the daring aerial displays that thrill.
STORY-LINE:
China's Air Force's Bayi Aerobatic Team take to the skies to kick off the International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition 2016.
Known as Air Show China, the event is undrway in the country's southern city of Zhuhai.
Flying home grown J-10 fighters, the unit was founded in 1962 and has over the years performed more than 500 times for delegations from 166 countries and regions.
Aerobatic teams from Russia, UK and Pakistan are here to show off their dizzying stunts to the thousands of onlookers below.
This year sees the first time the UK Royal Air Force's Red Arrows perform in China.
"Just being here and having all the aircraft in the sky and the UK represented was a tremendous honour for us at this prestigious air show. As for the display itself, it went fine actually. We were up against the weather a little bit. We were surprised when the visibility got worse during the show and there was a slight bit of cloud cover which made some of the manoeuvres a little bit difficult. But it was great and it was nice to see a large crowd," says Lieutenant Joe Hourston, executive officer of the Red Arrow.
China's J-20 stealth fighter made a public debut at the opening of the air show, in the latest sign of the growing sophistication of the country's military technology.
With huge cheers from the crowd, the fifth-generation warplane, which outwardly resembles the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in service with the U.S. military, performed a short set of manoeuvres
The long-range J-20, armed with air-to-air missiles, performed its first test flight in 2011 and has been the object of feverish attention by the nation's aviation buffs ever since.
Among other recently developed Chinese aircraft appearing at the week long air show is the Y-20 large transport aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of around 200 tons.
The plane is being introduced into the People's Liberation Army to carry out aerial command-and-control operations and parachute drops.
Also drawing attention is the Chinese newly developed amphibious AG600.
About the size of a Boeing 737 - far larger than any other plane built to take off and land on water, AG600 has a maximum flight range of 2,800, with maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes.
Another newly developed, but this time unmanned combat aerial vehicle is also making its debut here.
With length of 9 metres and wingspan of 17, the UAV named Cloud Shadow, has battlefield surveillance and missile launching capability.
Its producer, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), says it is more capable than the Global Hawk in regard of the multi-tasks capability.
140 aircraft from 42 countries and regions are on display at the air show and nearly half of them are products of AVIC.
"People feel that the current product we have on display not only fulfils their function requirements, but also has a charming outlook and appeal in the sense of the industrial designs, the aerodynamic configurations and even the design and configuration of capsule cabins. This has shown an overhaul promotion of our industrial design and manufacture capability," says Zhang Xinguo, Vice President of AVIC.
This year marks the 11th International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. The show runs 1st to 6th November 2016.
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