China`s first domestically-developed armed attacking helicopter, the Z-10, is on display at the ongoing 7th China Helicopter Exhibition, which kicked off in north China`s Tianjin Municipality on Thursday.

The Z-10 has grabbed the spotlight during aerial shows staged by the Fenglei (literally "wind and thunder") aerobatic team of the Chinese People`s Liberation Army (PLA).

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The Z-10`s low-altitude mobility, compatibility with a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface guided weapons, and operational versatility in both day and night conditions make it a formidable contender on the global stage.

During air stunts, close coordination between the front and rear cockpit pilots is crucial, according to a member of Fenglei aerobatic team.

"The takeoff phase is always handled by the front seat pilot Feng Zhushi, then when conducting the solo display over the airfield, I take control from the rear seat. An airshow aims to present a visual feast for the audience, so our actual solo display aircraft are equipped with smoke generators and flare decoys, with the front seat pilot assisting me in deploying the smoke and flares," said Liu Bo, a member of Fenglei aerobatic team.

Liu further elaborated on the design concept behind the aerobatic maneuvers and how they demonstrate the aircraft`s capabilities and the aircraft`s advanced fire control system.

"Firstly, as everyone can see, the aerobatic maneuvers I`m performing at this airshow generally involve big, dramatic movements. These are maneuvers we pilots train with regularly that have a high visual appeal, so we showcase them. Executing these maneuvers demonstrates our aircraft`s powerful performance capabilities," said Liu Bo.

"The second strong point is the powerful fire control system, as everyone can see. This essentially serves as the Z-10`s `eyes`. That means during actual combat, after the pilot identifies a target, we use the sighting system to zero in on the target and then execute the strike," he added.

Additionally, the cannon system of the Z-10 has intelligent operation features, Liu said.

"This is the cannon system. The pilot in the front seat wears a weapon-aiming helmet that enables the cannon to follow the pilot`s line of sight, and then a press on the trigger will aim the fire at the target. This makes the pilot`s actual operations a lot easier," he said.

Hosted by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China and the Chinese People`s Liberation Army, the four-day event features 52 aircraft models, including helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The expo opened to the public for the first time on Saturday.