PLA Air Force aviation open-day event, Changchun Air Show open in China

Aircraft of China's Red Falcon Aerobatic Team perform during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Photo by Yu Hongchun/Xinhua)

CHANGCHUN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and the Changchun Air Show began on Friday in Changchun, northeast China, showcasing the air force's latest development achievements through dynamic aerial performances and static exhibitions.

The event features appearances by flight and parachute demonstration teams, as well as warplanes of combat units.

Highlights include the YY-20A tanker flying in pre-refueling formation with J-16 fighters, a twin bomber formation of H-6 aircraft, and the KJ-500 early warning aircraft escorted by four J-20 stealth fighter jets.

"The coordinated display of different aircraft types is essentially bringing our routine combat-oriented training exercises directly to the airshow," said Wu Haoran, a J-16 pilot.

This year's event is scheduled to run for five days. Since its inception in 2011, it has become a key platform to display the PLA Air Force's development achievements and strategic transformation.

A YY-20A tanker aircraft and two J-16 fighter jets are pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

A YY-20A tanker aircraft is pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Tang Chengzhuo)

People take photos of a YY-20A tanker aircraft during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

A KJ-500 early warning aircraft and four J-20 fighter jets are pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

People view a Y-8 cargo plane during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Aircraft of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force perform during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

An aircraft of the Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force performs during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

H-6 bomber jets are pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

Members of the Blue Eagle Parachute Team perform during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

A man takes photos of a modified pilotless J-6 aircraft during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

A member of the Bayi Parachute Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force performs during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

Pilots of a J-16 fighter jet greet the audience during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

J-20 fighter jets are pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

A J-20 fighter jet is pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Photo by Tan Sicheng/Xinhua)

A J-16 fighter jet is pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Tang Chengzhuo)

People view a J-20 fighter jet during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

Members of the Bayi Parachute Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force perform during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

J-16 fighter jets are pictured during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

Pilots greet the audience during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

A member of the Blue Eagle Parachute Team performs during the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and Changchun Air Show in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2025. The events kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Nan)

China Military