On July 30, as the "Sky Wing" Aerobatic Team of Aviation University of Air Force flawlessly completed its last set of flight maneuvers at the Changchun Air Base, the 2023 PLA Air Force Aviation Open-day Activity ? Changchun Air Show came to a close. The 2023 PLA Air Force Aviation Open-day Activity ? Changchun Air Show was larger in display scale and higher in level, with more activities, higher popularity, and better experiences. It attracted over 657,000 visitors, nearly 200,000 more than the previous event, setting a new historical record. With 10 PLA Air Force Aviation Open-day Activities and three Changchun Air Shows, the reputation of Changchun as an "Aviation City" is shining even brighter.

The exhibition presented a myriad of highlights.

In the ground display area, numerous new technologies and achievements were showcased for the first time in China and in Changchun;

In the aerial display area, the PLA Air Force's "Three Musketeers", YY-20, J-20, and J-16, performed together in Changchun. The Air Force's August 1st Aerobatic Team presented its debut performance in new outfits in China, and the "Sky Wing" and "Red Eagle" Aerobatic Teams of Aviation University of Air Force wowed the audience with breathtaking maneuvers;

Hundreds of industry experts participated in the 3rd China (Changchun) General Aviation Development Conference & the 1st UAV Industrial Planning and Development Seminar, and the 2023 China (Changchun) Aerospace and Optoelectronics Innovation Conference;

The first image of the "Jilin-1" with 41 satellites was released, and a batch of key projects were signed;

A New Chapter of Revitalization and Breakthroughs Unfolds in the Night Sky

On the evening of July 25, as one of the highlights of the 2023 PLA Air Force Aviation Open-day Activity ? Changchun Air Show, a spectacular cluster performance presented by 2,023 UAVs served as the prelude to the show.

At 19:40, accompanied by a majestic melody, 2,023 UAVs took off from the Center Square of the Changchun Agri-Expo Garden amid colorful lights. The imagery of the crucial national commodity grain production base, the national pilot province for ecological development, the important gateway to the northern opening-up for "Belt and Road", and other pictures slowly unfolded in the sky amid the lights of the UAVs, showcasing the high-quality development strategy of "one main focus and six pairs of coordinated tasks", with cheers erupted from the audience.

With the changes of light and shadow, various "Changchun elements" were depicted one by one in the night sky, including scenes of films, automobiles, aerospace, ice and snow, Chang Guang Satellite, and China Railway Express, in the resonance of the visitors. "How vivid they are! Look! That's the Changchun Film Studio, the cradle of Chinese cinema! And that's China FAW Group, where the Hongqi sedans are produced!" Amidst the changing formations and lights, the 2,023 UAVs painted a series of new pictures depicting the revitalization and breakthroughs of Changchun.

Adhering to a problem-oriented approach and strengthening awareness of weaknesses; working diligently, tirelessly, and pragmatically; deeply implementing the three-year action plan for new breakthroughs in the comprehensive revitalization, advancing all tasks to higher standards, faster pace, better quality, and greater efficiency... Under the magical performance of the 2023 UAV show, an open and inclusive Changchun, a city full of development vitality, slowly unfolded its image.

As the last group of UAV lighting performances, "Changchun - Thank you", appeared in the night sky, thunderous applause filled the air. "It is a grand night sky feast shared by all, a perfect fusion of technology and visuals, and an exceptional showcase of Changchun's revitalization and breakthroughs," said the audience, who witnessed the two-day event featuring a cluster performance presented by 2,023 UAVs.

A Fruitful "Aviation Event"

The 2023 Air Show witnessed the signing of 20 aerospace and optoelectronic industry projects in Changchun, including the Chang Guang Satellite Phase II Project, the General Aviation Industry-University-Research Collaborative Project of CETC Wuhu Dimond Aircraft Manufacture Co., Ltd., the Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Base Project of All View Optoelectronics, and the Aviation Creative Product Design and Development Project of AVIC Culture, with a total value of RMB 8 billion.

"The 2023 Air Show received a positive response from the public with a series of aerospace demonstrations and cultural tourism promotion activities," said relevant officials from Changchun Municipal Development and Reform Commission. Going forward, they plan to leverage the industrial platform and brand effect of the Changchun Air Show to accelerate the development of the city's aerospace industry. They will strive for deep integration between exhibitions and cultural tourism and further enhance Changchun's reputation as an "Aviation City". By doing so, it is aimed to facilitate the implementation of relevant industrial projects, stimulate industry activity, and foster the growth of Changchun's aerospace sector, transforming it into a future pillar industry.

The 2023 Changchun Air Show was larger in scale, with one additional exhibition hall compared to the previous event. The total exhibition area increased by 11,000 square meters, representing a growth rate of 56.1% over the last event. Over 140 renowned enterprises, including AVIC, Juneyao Airlines, and Chang Guang Satellite, participated in the event, representing an increase of over 40 exhibitors compared to the previous event, with a growth rate of 40.4%. Among them, 90 exhibitors were from the manufacturing sector, accounting for 64.7% of all participants, and 81 of these were first-time exhibitors, accounting for 58.3% of all participants. Over 1,000 pieces (sets) of high-precision cutting-edge exhibits from various fields such as commercial remote sensing satellites, UAVs, general aviation engines, airborne optoelectronic equipment, and aerospace materials, were showcased, doubling the number from the previous event.

Wang Shuwu, President of the UAV Industry Association of Jilin Province, and Chairman of North Asia Airlines, said that as one of the co-organizers of the Air Show, their main goal was to establish Changchun Aviation City as a platform for mutual exchange, trust, and understanding, leading to increased cooperation in the future. He believed that the cluster performance presented by 2,023 UAVs not only provided an impressive spectacle for the audience but also effectively promoted the industrial layout of Jilin Province and Changchun City, playing a significant role in advancing city industrial development and brand building. The show also boosted confidence in the development of the aerospace industry in Jilin Province and Changchun City, attracting more university students to enter related fields. Wang Shuwu hoped to drive further high-quality development in the aerospace industry by extending the related industrial chain and especially by strengthening the development of the UAV industry. Particularly, he emphasized the importance of incorporating aerospace culture into the overall industry development, from R&D to manufacturing and creating a large-scale cultural and tourism experience IP, thereby propelling the aerospace industry in Jilin Province and Changchun City to greater heights.

"This year's show covers a total area of 102,600 square meters, with an additional cultural and creative area featuring a diverse range of distinctive products. In the future, we will continue to upgrade the infrastructure," revealed the relevant officials from the Changchun Municipal Development and Reform Commission, who are currently vigorously planning an "Aviation Town" and continuously strengthening the collaborative development pattern between the Zhuhai Air Show and the Changchun Air Show.

Two Gatherings of Big Shots for Brainstorming

As the highlights of the 2023 Air Show, two remarkable events, namely the 3rd China (Changchun) General Aviation Development Conference & the 1st UAV Industrial Planning and Development Seminar, and the 2023 China (Changchun) Aerospace and Optoelectronics Innovation Conference, were successively held in Changchun. These two conferences were unprecedented in scale, attracting more than 400 experts and representatives of industry associations and related enterprises, including several academicians.

On July 25, under the theme of "Three-Dimensional Sky, Legislative Escort", the 3rd China (Changchun) General Aviation Development Conference & the 1st UAV Industrial Planning and Development Seminar gathered over 150 academicians, experts, and heads of government and industry management departments. The participants engaged in discussions on relative topics, such as the interpretation of the Provisional Regulations for the Management of UAV Flight, airworthiness certification, airspace resource utilization, UAV operation management, and industry development. Through professional speeches and experience sharing from academicians, experts, and heads of industry management departments, this conference facilitated exchanges and collaborations between the academic community, industrial circle, and relevant government departments. Building on this momentum, Changchun will continue to deepen cooperation with national government departments, relevant industry associations, major leading enterprises, and research institutes and aim to promote high-end services throughout the entire industry chain, upgrade the quality of UAV products, technology, management, services, and standards, and attract more UAV industry projects to land in Changchun, thus contributing to the high-quality development of China's general aviation and UAV industry.

On July 29, the 2023 China (Changchun) Aerospace and Optoelectronics Innovation Conference officially kicked off, drawing in numerous domestic and foreign authoritative scholars and industrial experts in the aerospace and optoelectronics fields. Under the theme of "Charting a New Course through Aerospace and Advancing Intelligent Manufacturing Development through Optoelectronics", the conference focused on various directions of the optoelectronics industry, such as "laser", "optical imaging", "semiconductors", and "optoelectronic displays". Participants jointly exchanged ideas on how the optoelectronics industry could boost the development of China's aerospace cause and explored the renewed advantages and the paths for the development of the optoelectronics industry in Changchun. During the conference, the China Association for Science and Technology released 15 significant scientific and technological issues in the photonics field in 2023, along with the "Chinese solution", which holds critical importance in leading the photoelectric science and industrial development. The event also featured a thematic promotion of Changchun New Area, the live release of the first image of Chang Guang Satellite with 41 satellites, and the centralized signing of 20 industrial projects.

Down-to-Earth Aerospace Science Popularization

At the 2023 Air Show, the Aerospace Culture and Creativity - Science Popularization Experience Pavilion became a favorite of aerospace enthusiasts, featuring dazzling exhibits such as the gold "Yutu" lunar rover, the silver "Zhurong" Mars rover, and realistic planetary layouts of the solar system. Covering an area of 5,000 square meters, the pavilion showcased themes like Exploring the Universe, Sparkling Space, Mars Exploration, and Interactive Spacecraft, offering visitors a completely novel experience through modern displays, scene reconstructions, and simulation displays.

"There are three computer screens here. The left screen displays an enlarged instrument panel, showing altitude, speed, and the horizon indicator. The middle screen provides the pilot's perspective, and when flying an aircraft, you need to look at this screen. The right screen shows an amplified view of the radar, displaying the flight direction," said Mr. Liu, an aerospace enthusiast from Shenyang, who brought his 8-year-old son to explore the pavilion. The father and son stopped at the flight experience area inside one of the pavilions, where Mr. Liu patiently guided his son through a "test flight", allowing the young boy to experience the joy of flying firsthand.

What is the experience like to pilot the C919 large passenger aircraft at an altitude of 10,000 meters? Strolling through the pavilion, one could see a long queue of children eagerly waiting in front of the 1:1 replica of the C919 large passenger aircraft's simulated cockpit. With guidance from the instructors, each young player had their first experience of piloting an aircraft, gaining a deeper understanding of this large domestically developed civil jetliner with independent intellectual property rights.

Is the Metaverse distant from us? No, it's within reach. As the foundation of the Metaverse, the 3D Cloud Array Camera was also showcased at the Air Show. In front of the cage-shaped 3D Cloud Array Camera shooting equipment, equipped with 140 high-definition cameras, visitors can create a 1:1 lifelike 3D digital avatar through one-second shooting.

Among the seven main theme pavilions, the most immersive experience came from the Immersive Experience Pavilion. In the Interactive Experience Room of the Cloud Exhibition Hall, various aircraft models, including fighter jets, transport planes, combat aircraft, and helicopters, were available for switching, attracting many aviation enthusiasts to participate in the simulated flight game. Following the prompts of the simulated flight game, each "fighter jet" quickly entered combat mode. Visitors experienced the thrill of simulated flight through flight modules such as simulated airdrop training and target shooting, toggling between the keyboard and mouse.

In the hot VR experience area on the side of the pavilion, various simulated flight projects attracted many young people to stop and experience them. "Wearing 3D glasses and sitting in the cockpit, you can really feel the excitement of piloting a fighter jet," said student Li, one of the participants, who felt the speed and excitement of piloting a fighter jet. He said that this kind of experience was something he had never felt during previous shows.

"Blue Sky Honor Guard" Presents an Aerospace Feast

During the 5-day aerial performance segment, YY-20, J-20, and J-16, known as PLA Air Force's "Three Musketeers", appeared together for the first time in Changchun. The Air Force's August 1st Aerobatic Team and the "Red Eagle" and "Sky Wing" Aerobatic Teams of Aviation University of Air Force all gathered in beautiful Changchun to participate in this grand aerial event.

The August 1st Aerobatic Team, known as the "Blue Sky Honor Guard", took center stage during the aerial display. Their performances included nearly 20 sets of highly challenging, high-risk, and unconventional tactical maneuvers, such as six-aircraft somersaults, upside-down flights in the clouds, synchronized flips, and flower creation via separate smoke trails, showcasing remarkable ornamental value and visual impact. "Admiring the 'dance on the edge of a knife', one can't help but imagine how much hardship the pilots have gone through in their training. They are amazing," said the audience, clapping and praising the Air Force's August 1st Aerobatic Team.

The "Red Eagle" Aerobatic Team of Aviation University of Air Force demonstrated smooth and breathtaking maneuvers, such as the eight-aircraft somersaults in a diamond-shaped formation and the six-aircraft barrel roll, gracefully dancing in the vast sky.

The "Sky Wing" Aerobatic Team of Aviation University of Air Force performed aerial acrobatics and galloped through the blue sky, providing the audience with a visual feast. Its aerial displays, including two-aircraft diving, ascending, and turning, four-aircraft scissor maneuvers, and three-aircraft tailspins, showcased the pilots' exceptional skills, painting the blue sky with their artistry.

Each appearance of the PLA Air Force's "Three Musketeers", YY-20, J-20, and J-16, stirred the audience. The four J-20 fighters soared through the clear sky, leaving behind a line of characters like migrating geese, creating an exclusive sight in the Changchun sky this July. The two J-16 fighters crisscrossed and climbed, and performed ultra-low altitude and high-speed "head-on" maneuvers, creating a highly stunning spectacle, while the YY-20 gracefully danced like an elegant dancer, with smooth flight trajectories and graceful aerial maneuvers, showcasing the aircraft's excellent performance the pilots' exceptional skills.

Jilin's "Intelligent Manufacturing" Enhances the Reputation of Aviation City

The Jilin Pavilion, themed "Inheriting the Spirit of Aviation to Build a Renowned Aerospace City", focused on technological innovation and application in the aerospace industry, showcasing the leap-forward and high-quality development achievements of Jilin Province and Changchun City in the aerospace industry.

"We brought the 'Jilin-1' High-Resolution 06 Satellite," said Wang Mingcheng, Business Manager of the Marketing Department at Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. This satellite series, independently developed by the company, offers high-resolution, lightweight, and mass-produced satellites that provide abundant remote sensing data services for agriculture, forestry, urban construction, and other fields. "This is the second time we've participated in the show, and we hope to use this platform to popularize aerospace knowledge to more visitors and showcase Changchun's strength in the aerospace information industry."

Both the well-known "Jilin-1" Satellite and the continuously upgraded UAV products at the Jilin Pavilion became the focus of attention for visitors.

A total of 48 enterprises and institutions were present at the Jilin Pavilion, showcasing over 280 exhibits, with 27 enterprises from Changchun, accounting for 56.25% of the exhibitors. Participating enterprises covered seven sectors, including UAVs, optoelectronic satellites, core components, basic materials, education and training, general aviation, and city and prefecture promotions, representing development achievements and potential advantages of Jilin Province and Changchun City in the aerospace and supporting industries, as well as scientific research institutes, and showcasing Jilin's strength in intelligent manufacturing.

"I've assembled this aircraft before." "This is an FPV drone, and I've operated it too."... Some high school students from Anshan City, Liaoning Province, who came specifically to see the Air Show, were particularly excited at the Jilin Pavilion. As an aviation enthusiast, Zhang Fuquan visited an air show in Changchun for the first time. He praised the impressive exhibits at the Jilin Pavilion, as he witnessed many cutting-edge achievements for the first time.

The Air Show is not only a platform for showcasing Changchun but also an opportunity for Changchun's development. In recent years, our city has vigorously promoted the high-quality development of the aerospace industry, planning and constructing a batch of significant aerospace projects such as the Aerospace Information Industrial Park, Intelligent Optics Valley Industrial Park, UAV Industrial Park, Aerospace Technology Expo Park, and Aerospace Industry Demonstration Park, and cultivating a batch of high-quality leading enterprises such as Chang Guang Satellite, Changchun Long Aerospace, UP Optotech, Cedar Electronics, and Boxiang UAV, along with over 200 upstream and downstream supporting enterprises, thereby initially forming an aerospace industry ecosystem with synergy between space and ground, as well as integration between complete aircraft products and upstream and downstream supporting linkages. Going forward, our city will fully leverage its advantages in scientific research, talent, and industry to accelerate the implementation of major aerospace industry projects, seize opportunities in the R&D and manufacturing of commercial satellites, UAVs, and aircraft components, as well as new industrial tracks such as aerospace electronics and new materials, high-end chips, and exhibition and creative industries, which will help foster the construction of a modern industrial system and enhance the reputation of Changchun as an "Aviation City".