Honored PLA pilot inspires younger Chinese

Born in June 1986, Du joined the PLA Air Force in September 2004 and was then sent to a flight academy. After graduating from the academy, he was assigned to an Air Force fighter jet unit.

In 2017, his fine skills and remarkable performance earned Du a promotion to the deputy commander of the Du Fengrui Regiment, an elite Air Force unit that was named after an air combat hero. The next year, he was named the unit's 26th commander.