Of the 32 airmen piloting 16 transport helicopters of the PLA army aviation helicopter formation participating in the " Peace Mission 2007" joint anti-terror military exercise sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, three hold the rank of colonel, three hold the rank of major, and the remaining airmen are all junior officers, with an average age of only 28.5 years.

　　During the transnational flight, the reporter was on a helicopter piloted by the formation leader called Su Xiang who is in his early 30s. The co-pilot's name is Yan Ningbo whose rank is first lieutenant and he is only 24 years old. "This transnational ferry flight must have unprecedented difficulties and challenges, and involve great risks. " I asked, intending to strike up a conversation with them. Su Xiang, sensing that I was anxious about the flight, replied soothingly: "Don't worry, I flew over the Ali Plateau many times. The mountain peaks of the Ali Plateau have an altitude of over 5000 m while the Mount Friendship is only 4000 m high, so is there any difficulty that can not be overcome?"

　　On this international helicopter maiden flight route from the foot of the Tianshan Mountain to the south foot of the Ural Mountains, the two young pilots have all long flown their helicopter calmly and handled the situation with ease, leading their eight- helicopter formation to land safely in the pre-determined exercise area.

　　By Xu Shuangxi

　　(Aug 17, PLA Daily)