PRC President reviews PLAN Naval Air

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member

AUGUST 28, 2013
Chinese President Xi Jin Ping Reviews PLAN Naval Aviation
and the Chinese Aircraft Carrier Liaoning, CV-16


On August 28, 2013, President Xi Jin Ping of the People's Republic of China (PRC) visited the Naval Aviation Training Facility near Shenyang, China. Afterwards, he traveled to Dalian Naval Shipyards, where the new Chinese Carrier, the Liaoning, CV-16 is docked, and visited the vessel there.

This is a signifcant show of support for the developing Naval Air Arm of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and shos the President's own support for the programs, and by extension that of the Chinese Communist Party and the Politburo.

Thge Visit to the Naval Aviation Training Facility

Upon arrival at the Training Facility near Shenyang, the President was first greeted and then taken to a review stand.


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While there, he first observed a demonstration of the J-15, the strike fighter the PLAN is developing for its carriers, as one of them took off from one of the two ski-jumps that have been built there to train Chinese naval aviation pilots.


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The President then observed the landing of the J-15, seeing how it "traps" a wire with its tailhook. The Naval Aviation Training Facility at Shenyang has been built to allow trainees to be trained and tested in all aspects of carrier operations, including the trap wires which have been installed on a carrier "deck" which has been built on land there.


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Afterwards, President Xi spent time with the trainees themselves, congratulating one group on their progress and then speaking to all of the trainees about the importance of what they are doing for the PRC.


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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
The Visit to the Aircraft Carrier, Liaoning, CV-16


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, is the PLAN's first aircraft carrier. It is a large angled-deck carrier displacing over 65,000 tons and capable of carrying more than 30 strike aircraft. The Chinese purchased this carrier from the Ukraine in the late 1990s. It was the sister ship of the Russian Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, but was not completed before the fall of the Soviet Union and ended up in Ukraine, unfinished after the collapse of the USSR.

China bought the carrier, had it towed to Dalian shipyards and then performed a detailed study of the vessel. Then,
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with Chinese sensors, weapons systems, and ultimately with the Chinese J-15 strike fighters which they have developed and are now beginning to produce. They launched her on August 9, 2011, and commissioned her on September 24, 2012.

Upon arrivial at the aircraft carrier in Dalian, President Xi was greeted by a manning of the rails, and was then escorted onto the carrier deck, where an honor guard welcomed him aboard.


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President Xi then made his way to the bridge of the Liiaoning, where he reviewed the staions there, listened as bridge operations were explained to him, and then accepted a plaque commemorating the Liaoning from the commanding officer on behalf of the entire crew. He then spoke to the crew.


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After this, the party made its way onto the large flight deck of the Liaoning. The Liaoning is what is known as a STOBAR (Short Take Off, Baarier Assisted Recovery) Aircraft carrier. This means she uses a ski-jump to assist her aircraft to get into the air, and then uses trap wires and a barrier system to recover those aircraft as they land.

The jet blast deflector and the chocks to hold the aircraft in place as they power up for launch were demonstrated.

In addition, the optical landing light system was demonstrated which the pilots use to help them land in all weather conditions. Crew members discussed these operations during these demonstrations, and the President reviewed the various operations on the flight deck which are depicted and coordinated by different color suits that the personnel wear when working on the flight deck.


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Finally, the entire entourage made its way to the hanger deck, using one of the two large elevatoirs which are designed to move the aircraft carrier's fighters and helicopters between the flight deck and the hanger where aircraft can be safely stored and worked on.

In the hanger, President Xi was shown the carriers Ouijah Board layout. This is a device that allows the deck traffic controllers to keep track of the aircraft on deck and avoid any traffic and movement problems.

In addition, the fire fighting team showed the President the equipment and fire suits they are trained on and use in the event of requiring to fight and extinguish any fires that ignite in the hanger or on deck.


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All in all, it was a very productive day, and an exciting one for the whole crew of the Liaoning.

Summary

The visit by the President of the People's Republic of China specifically to the Naval Aviation Training Facilty and the Aircraft Carrier Liaoning, sends a strong message of support internally to the people fo China and their leaders, as well as to other nations. It punctuates the PRC's determination to develop and maintian a strong naval air arm as a part of their armed forces, and to develop, build, and deploy large aircraft carriers and their airwings in pursuit of PRC interests.

The PRC has already announced plans to build at least two, and probably more of their own indegenous carriers. From modules that have been seen under construction at Dalian, where the Liaoning was completed, it appears that they have already begun to do just that.
 
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Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Jeff, the guy's last name is Xi, not Ping ;)
Thanks, here in the west, when you see a name written out as Xi Jin Ping the presumption is that the last name is listed last.

So, when you address someone with their title, you normally just append the last name on to it...ie. President Bush, or President Clinton.

That's why I used it that way, but now upon being made aware of the mistake, I have now gone back and fixed it in my article.

Again, thanks.
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
I suppose we now know why the liaoning returned to dalian. This would be Xi's first stroll aboard too.

Everything and everyone certainly looks clean and smart, but they should really be using this time out at sea.
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
I suppose we now know why the liaoning returned to dalian. This would be Xi's first stroll aboard too.

Everything and everyone certainly looks clean and smart, but they should really be using this time out at sea.
Well, a high level visit by the President specifially to the NAval Aviation Training Center and the Liaoning on the same trip, sends a very high level message.

I am sure the Admirals in the PLAN are extremely appreciative of it, as are the sailors. Nice to know that this new equipment, new policies, procedures, and logistics have the support of the leaders all the way to the top.

As I said, it also sends a message to the international community that HCina is completely serious about seeing this forward and realizing its goals.

Now that this has occurred though...time to weigh anchor and get back to it!
 

vincent

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
Thanks, here in the west, when you see a name written out as Xi Jin Ping the presumption is that the last name is listed last.

So, when you address someone with their title, you normally just append the last name on to it...ie. President Bush, or President Clinton.

I'm well aware of that fact since I'm a Canadian ;)
 

SinoSoldier

Colonel
Well, a high level visit by the President specifially to the NAval Aviation Training Center and the Liaoning on the same trip, sends a very high level message.

I am sure the Admirals in the PLAN are extremely appreciative of it, as are the sailors. Nice to know that this new equipment, new policies, procedures, and logistics have the support of the leaders all the way to the top.

As I said, it also sends a message to the international community that HCina is completely serious about seeing this forward and realizing its goals.

Now that this has occurred though...time to weigh anchor and get back to it!

Honestly, they should have flown Xi Jinping onto the carrier using a helicopter (or later a Y-7 AWACS) and do the inspection while the naval exercise was going on. Makes a president look more active this way.
 

Franklin

Captain
We now know they can land and take off pretty well on a wet deck. But we still haven't seen a J-15 take off with a weapons load yet.
 
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