August 1st (aerobatic team)

The August 1st or 81st Aerobatics Team is the aerobatic demonstration team of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is named after the date of the founding of the PLAAF, and is a part of the PLAAF Beijing Military Region. The unit was founded in 1962 and has over the years performed more than 500 times for delegations from 166 countries and regions. Its first show abroad happened in August 2013 during the Russian airshow MAKS.

Aircraft
The August 1st aerobatic team (Ba Yi aerobatic team) initially equipped the fleet with JJ-5 fighter-trainer jets, a Chinese version of Russian made MiG-17. In later years the JJ-5s were replaced by Chengdu J-7EB, then again was replaced by the newer J-7GB (2001). There are about 8 aircraft in the fleet, but only 6 are set for any airshow.

In May 2009, the team upgraded their jets to the much more advanced Chengdu J-10 multirole fighter.

Base

 * The aerobatics team is based out of Yangcun Air Force Base (Meichong) near Tianjin, home to the 24th Fighter Division.

Appearances

 * China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition
 * MAKS 2013

Accidents

 * June 1997 - 3 aircraft crash in Tianjin during a practice session
 * 15 September 1998 - single aircraft crashes near Chongming Island Airport near Shanghai
 * July 14, 2009 - Number 3 wing which was a J-7GB crashed at Yang Cun airbase during practicing session, while preparing for the coming National Day demonstration on October 1st.