Source: Xinhua
03-30-2009 13:50
Special Report: Tech MaxBEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese pilot who successfully brought a malfunctioning jet fighter, a domestically made J-10, in for a landing was given the nation's First-Class Merit Citation and a Meritorious Pilot gold medal last Thursday.
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| China's J-10 Aircraft (File photo) |
Li Feng, 38, an air force pilot with more than 2,000 hours of flight time, encountered an engine problem during a tactical training exercise at an altitude of about 4,500 meters on March 7.
With assistance from the command center of a nearby air base, Li tried every possible means to return to base. However, the plane lost all power at an altitude of 1,160 meters, although it was only about 6 km from the base's runway.
"There was some smoke in the cockpit, perhaps generated by the engine, which leaked into the environmental control system," Lt.-Col. Li said during an interview with China Central Television last week.
"All readings on the instrument board vanished, red lights flashed and the radio went out," he said.
Under Air Force rules, fighter pilots may eject if their aircraft loses engine power below 2,000 meters and can't be restarted.
Before Li lost contact with the control tower, the commander in the air base asked him to eject.
But Li Feng insisted on having another try.
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