An Air Force Unit Holds a Retirement-from-Flying Ceremony for Six Veteran Pilots — "Our Hearts Will Forever Remain with the War Eagles"
An Air Force Unit Holds a Retirement-from-Flying Ceremony for Six Veteran Pilots — "Our Hearts Will Forever Remain with the War Eagles"
At dawn, at an Air Force unit's airfield, war eagles stood arrayed in formation as a retirement-from-flying ceremony was held as scheduled.
On the tarmac, witnessed by representatives of the unit's officers and soldiers and their family members, six veteran pilots bid a heartfelt farewell to the war eagles, passed the baton to a new cohort of pilots, and brought their flying careers to a fitting close.
These veteran pilots soared through the skies for decades, writing a legacy of passionate loyalty through one magnificent flight path after another, safeguarding the peace of the motherland. At the same time, they willingly served as stepping stones for others (甘为人梯), devoting themselves to flight instruction and making important contributions to the unit's combat capability development.
Reaching out to touch the familiar war eagles with their own hands, the veteran pilots' eyes were filled with deep attachment. Master-grade pilot (特级飞行员) Yang Yong lingered reluctantly, circling the aircraft again and again. As a veteran pilot who had been tempered across multiple posts, he fought side by side with the war eagles for thirty years — going to the plateau, deploying to island outposts, battling the Gobi — pouring his youth and his blood into every flight path. Now, though past fifty with frost at his temples, Yang Yong's original aspiration (初心) to forge ahead and strengthen the military burns as hot as ever.
"Retired pilots, present helmets to the young pilots!" At the issuance of that brief and forceful command, six young pilot representatives fell into neat formation and jogged forward to stand before the veteran pilots. Looking at the vigorous young faces before him, veteran pilot Meng Xianqi could not hold back the tears welling in his eyes. He carefully cradled the helmet and solemnly placed it in a young pilot's hands, offering earnest words of counsel: "Put it on, and keep on guarding the blue skies of the motherland!"
Standing among the family member representatives, Meng Xianqi's son Meng Lingyu clapped hard for his father. In his memory, his father in a flight suit always cut a tall and dashing figure. Influenced by his father, Meng Lingyu fell in love with the blue sky and with flying from an early age. He has now been admitted to the Air Force Service College for further study.
In that moment, Meng Lingyu understood in his heart that what his father was handing over was not merely a flight helmet, but a weighty mission and responsibility. "I must follow in my father's footsteps, train hard to master the skills needed to win, and in the future, together with my comrades, loyally guard the blue skies of the motherland," he said.
"I am reluctant to part with my beloved war eagles, my dear comrades-in-arms, and the cause I love — but I am also gratified to see that a cohort of young pilots has grown strong, soaring along the flight paths we blazed, toward skies higher and farther…" Holding the flowers presented by officers and soldiers' representatives, veteran pilot Chen Zhijie's heartfelt words drew warm applause from the officers, soldiers, and family member representatives present.
Engines roared as several war eagles took off one after another with afterburners engaged. Watching the war eagles lift into the sky in succession, the six veteran pilots, sashes draped across their chests, stood in neat formation and raised their arms in salute. "Although we have taken off the flight suit, our hearts will forever remain with the war eagles, with the mission, and with this deeply beloved blue sky above our heads," Meng Xianqi said with deep feeling, watching the war eagles recede into the distance.