China's most advanced fighter-pilot trainer to be delivered in 2007

China's most advanced fighter-pilot trainer, the "Shanying", or Mountain Eagle, will be delivered to customers in 2007, said the chief architect Sun Huizhong on Tuesday.

Sun said the jet passed technical testing in December 2005, two years after its maiden flight on December 13, 2003.

China is installing a stability control system and a microwave landing system to meet the new requirements of customers, said Sun, who works at the Guizhou Aviation Industry Group under the first division of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.

Sun added the two-seat trainer can be used for ground attack or be refitted as a reconnaissance plane, light attack plane or electronics jamming plane.

The trainer, along with L-15 trainer, FTC-2000 trainer, Eagle-500 aircraft, the spacecraft of Shenzhou-6 and a prototype of China's proposed lunar explorer, are on display at Airshow China 2006 being held in southern coastal city of Zhuhai.

This is the 6th airshow of its kind in China which was first initiated in 1996, also in Zhuhai. It opened on October 30 and will last through November 5.

Source: Xinhua