China | Top guns for hire

Former military pilots from the West are being lured to China

Are they giving the Chinese air force a leg up?

(180830) -- CHANGCHUN, Aug. 30, 2018 (Xinhua) -- A pilot of Red Falcon Air Demonstration Team performs during an activity of opening day at the Aviation University of Air Forces in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Aug. 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Yang Pan) (mp)Xinhua News Agency / eyevineContact eyevine for more information about using this image:T: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709E: info@eyevine.comhttp://www.eyevine.com

IN APRIL A Chinese fighter jet crashed in a rural part of eastern China. The two pilots safely ejected and were quickly surrounded by locals, who recorded the encounter. “Who is that?” asked a villager, pointing to one of the pilots, a white man with red hair who spoke in English. “This is our instructor,” said the other pilot in Chinese. “Don’t take photos.”

This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Top guns for hire”

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