'He really loved his job'

Zhang Ya, widow of Zhang Chao

I met Zhang Chao in 2009, and we married in September 2011.

When he was with me, he often told me things about flying and his training. He also showed me how he flew a fighter jet and what he had learned from his instructors. He was frugal, but would spend hundreds of yuan on model aircraft. I could see that my husband was very proud to be a Navy fighter pilot and I know he really loved his job.