Display of J-20 fighter thrills spectators at air show

Code-named Weilong, or Mighty Dragon, the J-20 made its public debut in November 2016 at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. It entered service with the Air Force later that year, becoming the world's third stealth fighter jet to enter service following the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II of the United States.

Until now, there have been three models in the J-20 series — the baseline configuration, which is on display in Changchun; the J-20A, an upgraded single-seat variant that is equipped with new, more powerful domestically developed engines; and the J-20S, the world's first and only twin-seat stealth jet.

All three types took part in flight performances during a grand parade earlier this month in Beijing.

Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said that the ground display of the J-20 represents an unprecedented level of transparency, openness and confidence of the Air Force.

"It is because the Air Force has deployed a large number of J-20s and that the Chinese aviation industry must have begun to develop next-generation combat planes. Enabling the public to have a close look at the J-20 will definitely increase their confidence in the Air Force's hardware and operational capability," Wang said.

In addition to the J-20, the Air Force has also sent a number of advanced fighter jets, bombers, early-warning and control aircraft to the Air Force's activities, which drew an estimated 100,000 spectators on Friday, mostly weapons and aviation enthusiasts coming from across the nation.