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Harsh judgment
“When I was a pilot cadet, I yearned for the blue sky. Before joining the aerobatics team, all four of us had flown more than 700 hours, but only on the team did I experience the real thrill of flying,” says He Xiaoli.
The first training session – a two-aircraft formation – was designed to assess their flying skills. While the four were pleased with their display, the coaches criticized their unstable formations and imperfect maneuvers. He Xiaoli was taken aback. She never thought she would fail their first and most basic test.
After that blow, the women threw themselves into learning the skills. Books, training materials and notes filled their dormitory.
There are no short-cuts in learning the aerobatics. After she mastered the skills, He flew again, and this time she had a very different experience.
“I felt so close to the aircraft that I could see each rivet clearly and felt I could touch the wing of the lead aircraft,” she recalls.
“I was a little afraid at the beginning, but later I was so excited and confident in doing maneuvers. Those feelings lingered even after I got off the plane.”
