Air Force man awarded "Heroic Test Pilot"

Source: Xinhuanet | 07-24-2007 09:51

BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Central Military Commission (CMC) awarded the honorary title of "Heroic Test Pilot" to Li Zhonghua, of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, for his successful flight-tests of warplanes, on Monday.

CMC Chairman Hu Jintao signed a decree to award a First-Class Medal for Heroic Model to the hero, who has test-flied fighters, fighting bombers and transporters, safely for a total of 2,267 hours.

Qiao Qingchen, a CMC member and commander of the PLA Air Force, was present at Monday's ceremony, at which Li received a "Medal for First-Class Heroic Model" and a certificate.

According to Army sources, Li, a former deputy head of a test-flying regiment of the PLA Air Force, has survived dangerous situation many times and previously, he had been awarded a First-Class Medal, five Second-Class Medals and six Third-Class Medals, for his meritorious deeds.

Last year, he was chosen as an "Excellent Communist Party Member of the Whole Army".

Editor:Du Xiaodan