Flowers blooming into the sky
■Chen Xiaojie
In the early spring afternoon, the sky is intoxicatingly blue, and the sun shines brightly. I came to a certain air force brigade in the southern theater. Standing on the side of the wide and straight runway, I saw a tall figure running straight towards the transport plane and quickly boarding the ramp. With the roar of the engine, a blue war eagle rose into the sky against the sun and disappeared into the sky.
After the mission, I came to the outfield again and met the protagonist of our story: Li Wanxin, representative of the 14th National People's Congress. It was slightly different from the sweet and youthful image in the news photos. At this moment, standing in front of me was a resolute female pilot—she was wearing a grass-green flight suit. She was thin but looked powerful, young and calm and capable.
Illustrations: Chen Yujie, Tang Jianping
A few simple words of self-introduction opened up her chatterbox. In high school, Li Wanxin participated in the recruitment selection at the suggestion of her teacher. In the end, she was lucky enough to become one of the 10th batch of female pilot cadets in the Air Force. From then on, her love and belief in flying took root deeply in her heart. "For me, the roar of planes flying overhead has another meaning. It seems to be a call to me, a signal and encouragement to me." Li Wanxin smiled, "I have always believed that it was the fighter plane that chose me. ."
A gust of wind blew by, and her hair was flying in the wind, and the high bun made her look even more playful and cute. "As a female pilot, have you ever received special treatment in your studies and training?" As soon as I said these words, I felt a little regretful. Li Wanxin shook her head simply: "Three feet above the ground, regardless of gender." This was what the instructor said to her on the first day of flight training.
In the face of high-intensity training, compared with male soldiers, she seemed too delicate. But the instructor walked up to her and said softly: "There is no distinction between men and women on the battlefield." She knew that if she wanted to stay, she could only prove herself with her strength.
After intense study and training and cruel grounding and elimination, Li Wanxin not only obtained the pilot's "qualification certificate", but also became a "top 100 student" of the Air Force Aviation University. After graduating from
, Li Wanxin came to a certain air force brigade in the southern theater and immediately received the task of modifying new aircraft models. It was a combined mission flight. Taking off from this airport, Li Wanxin had to land at two airports in a row. However, the second airport reported that weather conditions were not suitable for flying. It was already 18:00 when we landed at the first airport. As soon as we landed, the crew went straight to the control tower to assess the weather conditions. Meteorological data shows that clouds are forming on the next route.
Li Wanxin stood aside, quietly waiting for the captain's order. In order not to affect the next day's mission, the captain made a decisive decision: "Fly!" After several years of training, she is now like a poised arrow, ready to go. She knew this was a real test. At 19:00, after Li Wanxin took off in a new transport aircraft, a cloud of cumulonimbus appeared on the route. Li Wanxin's mind quickly flashed through the methods the coach had told him about dealing with dangerous weather. At this moment, she had only one determination, and that was to follow the mission requirements! There was a gap between the clouds ahead, and Li Wanxin seized the opportunity to fly straight through it. After entering the clouds, the plane started to bump... Li Wanxin operated calmly, used navigation equipment to establish a route, and completed multiple actions accurately and coherently in a short period of time. Finally, the transport plane emerged from the low-hanging black clouds. As soon as the plane landed and before it completely exited the runway, heavy rain came instantly.
After studying hard and refining her skills over and over again, and overcoming obstacles again and again, Li Wanxin became the only female pilot in her unit who completed the modification of a certain type of transport aircraft. During her 11 years in the army, she responded to the opportunities presented by the times by breaking through and surpassing herself again and again.
At the end of the interview, I asked her, what is her current goal? "Become a captain." Li Wanxin pursed her lips and thought for a moment, then said with a smile: "I know now more clearly than ever before what I love most and what is most precious in my heart, and I will definitely do it for Just work hard." That smile is still sweet, like a flower that strives to bloom towards the sky.
(This article was published in the "Long March Supplement" edition of "Liberation Army Daily" on March 8, 2024)
Source: PLA Daily public account
Editor: Su Pei
