Parade brings service members' dreams alive

During the event, some of the first 14 female aviators shared stories and memories about flying in the Air Force, especially the March 1952 flight over Tian'anmen Square, Kang said.

"Their eyes filled with tears when recalling that once-in-a-lifetime moment. They were old, with gray hair, yet full of energy and enthusiasm as they remembered that glorious morning. It was like they had returned to their youth and the years of struggling for dreams."

After knowing Kang was from the newest batch of female pilots at that time, some of the first women fliers held her hands and said, "You young girls were born into a good era and have such a good opportunity to operate advanced aircraft. You must work hard and earn new honor for generations of female aviators."

"I promised I would do my best to serve the motherland," Kang said.

According to Kang, the unit she serves with has been undergoing extensive transformation for the past two years in terms of hardware and training standards.

"The new combat plane poses demanding challenges to female aviators. Facing them, I spared no effort to exercise my body and hone my flight skills, and successfully passed stringent tests to qualify for the new jet. This will be my first parade, and it is a great honor to fly the Air Force's combat jet, undergo inspection by the country and its people, and demonstrate the strength of new-generation female pilots," Kang noted.