Video | Average Age Under 27! Directly Reporting from the Air Force "Female Pilot Team" Training Ground

This year marks the 77th anniversary of the People's Air Force. Recently, a unit of the Central Theater Command Air Force organized a beyond-visual-range air combat exercise, showcasing the prowess of the blue team composed of female fighter pilots.

Beyond-Visual-Range Air Combat: Blue Team of Female Pilots Shines

This beyond-visual-range air combat was fast-paced and frequent, with the roar of aircraft continuing until after ten o'clock at night. Beyond-visual-range air combat is the mainstream form of modern aerial warfare, where both sides detect, lock on, and launch medium- to long-range air-to-air missiles to attack at distances beyond visual range using onboard radar and other detection means.

Leveraging their radar advantage, the blue team, composed of female pilots, seized the initiative, effectively "attacking" multiple times during the medium- to long-range phase before the red team had completed its tactical deployment, disrupting the coordination rhythm of the red team on several occasions.

Yao Tianhui, Central Theater Command Air Force: People often say that today's "enemy" is the women's team, all female pilots, and they feel that sometimes we charge particularly fiercely, saying she fights particularly aggressively and pushes forward significantly.

Qi Siyu, Central Theater Command Air Force: Many things happen in an instant, requiring quick reaction abilities. At that moment, you must be decisive and firmly believe that your first reaction is correct; the battlefield is ever-changing, and being a second late can be fatal.

"Sky Roses" Soaring in the Skies

This highly capable "female pilot team" has an average age of less than 27, yet they have an average flight time of over 800 hours, continuously expanding their flight trajectories through various missions.

There are four female fighter pilots in the Central Theater Command Air Force, and Yao Tianhui, a "post-2000" pilot, is one of them. Recently, during a major mission, she flew a fighter jet alone for five hours without an instructor accompanying her, completing the mission solo.

Yao Tianhui, Central Theater Command Air Force: From the moment I got on the plane until I landed, I looked at the time and realized it was exactly five hours. It was a test of my abilities and an enhancement of my skills, knowing that I could continuously engage in combat for four to five hours without any issues.

In recent years, the military has accelerated its transformation, raising the requirements for fighter pilots and advancing training towards system integration. For this group of young female pilots, more and tougher challenges are on the horizon, demanding that they excel not only technically but also maintain a strong mindset.

Wang Rui, Central Theater Command Air Force: The first refueling and the distance to the Y-20 tanker are very close; even a slight deviation can lead to dangerous consequences. However, during the flight, I kept adjusting my mindset and focusing on the operational skills taught by my instructor, completing the left and right connections on my first day of solo flight.

With realistic training and aerial confrontations, they have been present in every mission. Now, all the female pilots have passed the qualification assessment for lead pilots and can skillfully command wingmen in formation combat, becoming the backbone flying force of their unit.

Wang Rui, Central Theater Command Air Force: I believe true strength is not about never feeling fear, but about feeling fear yet still choosing to face challenges head-on, allowing oneself to grow and transform.