Memorial service held for fighter jet production head
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 29, 2012
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Memorial service held for fighter jet production head |
A high-profile memorial service was held for Luo Yang on Thursday morning in Shenyang, the birthplace of China's new J-15 fighter jet as well as the provincial capital of Liaoning.
Luo, head of the production phase of the J-15, experienced a heart attack on Sunday after spending days observing aircraft carrier flight landing tests for China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. He later died in hospital.
He was also chairman and general manager of Shenyang Aircraft Corp. (SAC), dubbed the "cradle of China's fighter jets."
The SAC is a subsidiary of China's state-owned aircraft maker, Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC).
Thousands of people stood in silence in the Huilonggang Cemetery for Revolutionaries in a tearful farewell to Luo.
"It is a great show of respect for Luo and the huge group comprising China's aviation industry, which features a strong research capacity and a dedicated spirit," said Nie Hong, vice president of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Tearful farewell
"We are deeply grieved to say farewell to Luo, the backbone of the AVIC. We landed on the aircraft carrier together by helicopter, but we could not take him back," said Lin Zuoming, president of the AVIC.
In the SAC plant located miles away from the cemetery, over 15,000 staff members observed a moment of silence in memory of Luo.
Technicians on the J-15 assembly line remained on duty to pay their respects to their beloved leader.
"Luo's image lingers in my mind all day long. I just sit in silence and chain smoke," said Sun Cong, chief designer of the J-15.
"After the flight landing tests on Saturday, we sat on the carrier's stairs and talked until night about the technical advancement of the J-15," said Sun, whose eyes were bloodshot from crying.
Sun said that he used to be nervous when Luo invited him to dinner, because, "I knew it must be to push for a new technical breakthrough. But we have no more chances to talk."
Dedicated Luo
Prior to making his final trip to Shenyang on Nov. 17, Luo had attended Airshow China 2012 in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.
He had no time to return home, and instead headed directly to the J-15 fighter jet base for test flight preparations.
"Luo, you are so tired. Sleep now, but how can I let you go," said Dr. Wang Xili, Luo's wife.
Luo called his wife once to report the success of the flight landing tests.
Luo did not smoke or drink alcohol, but he had high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
His work occasionally allowed him to squeeze in time to play volleyball, badminton and chess. However, Luo's tight schedule usually meant that he started work at 6 a.m. and returned home around midnight.
"People can hardly imagine the severe stress during his eight days on the carrier," said Meng Jun, chairman of AVIC Shenyang Liming Aero-Engine (Group) Corporation LTD.
Luo had the pressing tasks of monitoring and recording the entire process of the landing flight test.
"He stood within 20 meters of the take-off point of the J-15, whose spectacular roar was unbearable to people's hearts," Meng added.
Luo embarked on a 30-year career in aviation as a jet designer in Shenyang after graduating from Beijinghang University in 1982.
"Serve the nation with a clear dream of aviation," said Nie Hong, the university vice president, adding that Luo and his peers persevered through the industry's low points and finally embraced the vigorous development that came alongside China's growing economic strength.
Since being delivered to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Sept. 25, the carrier has undergone a series of sailing and technological tests, including the flight of the carrier-borne J-15.
The capabilities of the carrier platform and the J-15 have been tested, meeting all requirements and achieving good compatibility, according to the PLA Navy.
"In our mind, Luo is the nation's hero, like a military martyr," said an air force official who attended the memorial service.
"Without the dedicated work of Luo and his peers in the aviation industry, we would not see the country's strong national defense," he said.
(Xinhua contributed to this story)
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