The August 1st or 81st Aerobatics Team is the aerobatic demonstration team of the People's Liberation Army Air Force

People's Liberation Army Air Force

The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...

. It is named after the date of the founding of the PLAAF. The unit was founded in 1962 and has performed 320 events in 100 countries. It is part of the PLAAF Beijing Military Region.

Aircraft

The August 1st aerobatic team (Ba Yi aerobatic team) initially equipped the fleet with JJ-5

Shenyang J-5

The Shenyang J-5 , originally designated Dongfeng-101 - , and also Type 56 before being designated J-5 in 1964, is a Chinese-built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. The J-5 was exported as the F-5...

 fighter-trainer jets, a Chinese version of Russian made MiG-17.
In later ages The JJ-5s are replaced by Chengdu J-7EB

Chengdu J-7

The Chengdu Jian-7 is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces, including China's.-Design and development:...

, 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

Chengdu J-10

The Chengdu J-10 is a multirole fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation for the People's Liberation Army Air Force...

 multirole fighter.

Base

• The aerobatics team is based out of Yangcun Air Force Base (Meichong) near Tianjin
  Tianjin
  ' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
  
  , home to the 24th Fighter Division
  PLA-AF 24th Fighter Division
  The 24th Fighter Division is a unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is headquartered at Yangcun Air Base in the Beijing Military Region. The unit is equipped with J-8 fighters...
  
  .

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 Oct. 1st.

External links

• http://www.airliners.net/open.file/914320/M/
• Squadron patch