As a glider coach, he began training air force pilots in 1960. "China had a great shortage of pilots in those days, therefore the training was all high intensity. Sometimes I needed to fly some 70 times a day," Liu said.

Liu says China had a great shortage of pilots in the 1960s, therefore the training was all high intensity. Sometimes he needed to fly 70 times a day. Photos by Zou Hong / China Daily

But he thought the hard work was worth it because he cultivated more than 100 pilots for the air force, and all of them played an important role in national defense, economic development and in rescue missions.

In Li Wanfeng's eyes, deputy team leader of Shenyang Aerospace University flying team, Liu is not only an excellent pilot, coach but also a plane designer.

"To help us grasp the basic flying techniques, teacher Liu is very strict with us. But after class, he is like a grandpa who cares about our study and daily lives," Li says.

Since the 1990s, Liu has been flying to many provinces and autonomous regions to help with forest and agricultural research and disaster rescue.

In 2010, when he heard that a pest had spread quickly in Weifang, Shandong province and threatened the harvest, 72-year-old Liu flew to Weifang and helped spray pesticide with the plane for more than two weeks.

While the majority of Liu's peers are playing cards, exercising in the park or enjoying Peking opera at home, Liu's life is still full with work. Besides being invited to perform at various air shows, he is also chief pilot or test pilot for several domestic general aviation companies.

Among all his jobs, he likes training student pilots the most.

"China still has some distance to go compared with many developed countries and even some developing countries such as Brazil in terms of the general aviation industry. And one of the key reasons is a shortage of professional talents," said Liu.

According to Liu, most of the best-known plane designers from around the wor

ld are experienced pilots, but in China the situation is the opposite. The central government has attached more importance to aviation in recent years and opened some related courses in universities, the problem is that theory does not make for a great pilot - students need experience in the sky. The disconnect between classroom and cockpit has greatly hindered the development of China's aviation industry.

"The flying team that I am coaching now is all university students with an aviation background. Flying experience combined with aviation theory, these students will be the future of China's aviation industry," Liu says.

Liu Yi doesn't like people calling him China's oldest serving pilot, for in his heart his dreams of flying are forever young.

Contact the writers through [email protected].

Liu Ce contributed to this story.

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