Exercises

Night Falls Deep, Iron Wings Spin: A Close Look at Nighttime Flight Training Across Multiple Helicopter Types

夜幕沉沉、铁翼飞旋，直击多型直升机夜间飞行训练

PLA Daily (解放军报) 7 June 2026

Summary

A brigade of the 71st Group Army conducted multi-type helicopter nighttime flight training, completing formation flight, low-altitude covert penetration, simulated air-landing without ground guidance, and armed helicopter fire suppression runs, with the final aircraft recovering at 0200 hours. The article documents a persistent readiness gap the PLA has been working to close: night operations proficiency across mixed helicopter formations, specifically the integration of night-vision equipment for unguided field landings and coordinated multi-type tactical maneuvering. The detail on after-action review procedures and the 0200 recovery time provides a baseline for the brigade's current training tempo and night-operations depth, without indicating a change in posture.

Translation

Night Falls Deep, Iron Wings Spin

— A Glimpse of Nighttime Helicopter Flight Training at a Brigade of the 71st Group Army

■ Cao Junpeng, Zhang Haihui, Huang Zhenyu — Photography and Report

"Attention — entering 'enemy' radar detection zone ahead!"

The radio crackled with a report from the exercise control group (导调组). The lead aircraft (长机) immediately issued orders, directing a tactical formation of multiple helicopter types to transition to low-altitude covert flight.

In the pitch-black night sky, engines roared. A brigade of the 71st Group Army was conducting nighttime helicopter flight training.

Under cover of darkness, the aircraft banked and climbed into the sky.

The command group monitored the training situation in real time.

"Lights off — activate night-vision devices!" Following the lead aircraft's orders, the formation used night-vision equipment to execute a covert penetration (隐蔽突防). Pilots kept their eyes fixed on cockpit instruments while closely observing the external environment through night-vision devices, maintaining formation in the faint light of the dark night.

At a field landing zone, several transport helicopters conducted simulated tactical air-landing training (模拟机降训练) without ground guidance. The site was completely dark. Participating pilots used night-vision equipment to make precise adjustments to their control inputs, working to shorten the time required to complete each maneuver while maintaining stable flight.

In a separate airspace, armed helicopters executed high-bank turns and rapid zoom climbs, conducting simulated fire suppression against targets……

Inside the tower command room, the air situation was displayed on screens in real time. Members of the command group closely monitored the movements of each aircraft, periodically annotating the flight plan sheets with training observations to facilitate after-action review (复盘) upon completion of flight, thereby improving training quality and effectiveness.

Nighttime training concluded — ground crew guided the aircraft in for landing.

Ground crew replenished fuel for the aircraft.

At 0200 hours, as the last aircraft returned safely, officers and soldiers successfully completed nighttime training in multiple subjects including formation flight, low-altitude penetration, and simulated attack. Ground crew immediately took their positions to inspect and maintain the aircraft and replenish fuel, making preparations for a new round of daytime training.

Original Chinese

夜幕沉沉铁翼飞旋 ——第71集团军某旅夜间直升机飞行训练掠影 ■曹骏鹏张海辉黄振宇摄影报道 “注意，前方进入‘敌’雷达探测区！” 无线电台中，传来导调组通报。长机迅速下达指令，指挥多型直升机战术编队转入低空隐蔽飞行。漆黑夜空，引擎轰鸣。第71集团军某旅正在开展夜间直升机飞行训练。夜幕下，战机盘旋升空。指挥组实时监控训练态势。 “关闭灯光，开启夜视仪！”按照长机指令，编队借助夜视设备实施隐蔽突防。飞行员紧盯座舱仪表，通过夜视仪密切观察外部环境，在暗夜微光中保持飞行队形。某野外起降场，几架运输直升机在无地面引导条件下，进行战术模拟机降训练。现场漆黑一片，参训飞行员利用夜视设备精准调整操控动作，在保持平稳的同时，努力缩短动作完成时间。另一空域，武装直升机实施大坡度转弯、急速跃升，对目标进行模拟火力压制…… 塔台指挥室内，空情态势在屏幕上实时展现。指挥组成员密切观察各机动态，不时在飞行计划表上标注训练情况，便于飞行结束后进行复盘，提升训练质效。夜间训练结束，机务人员引导战机降落。机务人员为战机补给油料。凌晨2时，随着最后一架战机平稳返航，官兵顺利完成编队飞行、低空突防、模拟攻击等多个课目的夜间训练任务。机务人员迅速就位，对战机进行检查维护、补充燃油，做好昼间新一轮训练的准备。