China's air future flying high in the sky

Hot-air balloons floating gracefully, ready to soar in the skies over Laiwu, permanent home of the China International Air Sports Festival. Ju Chuanjiang / China Daily

This festival is the perfect place for international exchanges and cooperation in the aviation business

Pilots from all over the world have come to the city of Laiwu, in Shandong province to perform and compete in the skies overhead at an annual festival that started on Sept 24 and run through Sept 28.

Several hundred pilots from 26 countries are here to take part in the China International Air Sports Festival, whose permanent home is Laiwu.

The gala's feature is an international stunt flying challenge coupled with a national parachuting championships, a world-class radio controlled flying championship, and an open competition for all model airplane lovers.

The participants include some of the world's leading stunt flyers from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Japan, Russia, Argentina, and elsewhere.

"The festival is the perfect place for international exchanges and cooperation in the aviation business and has made Laiwu world-famous," said Huang Sheng, vice-governor of Shandong province.

The city will have more than 300 airplanes, powered paragliders, and hot-air balloons of various shapes and colors soaring overhead and attract thousands of sports fans and tourists from China and abroad.

The visitors can have a look at everything from acrobatic stunt shows to powered hang-gliders, light-helicopters and even the humble model airplane.

One of the more eye-catching performances is the human pyramid formed by a team of skydivers from seven countries, including the US, Canada, and New Zealand.

The 25 parachutists leap from two planes at different altitudes, grab the lines of a canopy below, and wrap them around their feet to form a diamond from the top down.

"It's not easy for so many people to complete the formation, which requires months of practice and planning. There's also the difficult task of finding 25 skydivers from seven countries skilled enough to join the group," explained Chris Gay, from the US, the team leader, and someone who has broken the world canopy formation record six times.

Interactive activities

And, there is more. The festival has various interactive activities for the visitors, such as flying high up in the sky in a hot-air balloon, experiencing the fun of simulated flying, and communicating with some of the world's top pilots.

One seven-year-old local boy, Tan Shangzhe, watching the show with his mother, expressed his amazement and desire with, "I never thought I'd see so many foreign pilots in my hometown. The performances are so cool. I hope I can fly an airplane like them one day."

John Grubbstrom, president of the International Air Sport Federation, commented, "There's an air sport for everyone. Whether you like adrenalin kicks or the beauty of flow, in all air sports you'll find a mixture of these. Young and old, boys and girls, strong or weaker in body, we can all enjoy air sports throughout our lives."

He went on to explain, "This is my third visit to Laiwu and I'm amazed by the fantastic development of the city. The event has expanded year by year and is bringing more and more people from all around the world together to enjoy this glamorous sport."

There is also an aero sports equipment exhibition during the event, where visitors can see some 200 types of the latest in advanced aircraft, model airplanes, and outdoor sporting goods from well-known manufacturers around the world.

Sponsors of the festival are the State General Administration of Sports and the Shandong provincial government, with backing by the Aero Sports Federation of China, Shandong provincial sports administration, and Laiwu municipal government.

According to the organizers, the festival employs 2,000 staff members and has 1,000 volunteers, and is expected to draw around 300,000 visitors.

The festival is also the perfect place for China's growing aero sports industry. China is expected to become the world's largest owner of private airplanes in 10 years. The private plane business has been growing 25 percent annually, according to Li Jiaxiang, director general of China's Civil Aviation Administration.

(China Daily 09/26/2011 page24)