Yu Zhenwu
- September 29, 2023
- 92 years
About Yu Zhenwu
Yu Zhenwu, 92, Chinese air force general, commander of PLAAF (1994–1996).
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Full Biography
|Yu Zhenwu (Chinese: 于振武; July 1931 – 29 September 2023) was a pilot and general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). As one of China's first test pilots, he conducted the 1958 maiden flight of the Shenyang JJ-1, China's first indigenously developed jet aircraft. He later served as commander of the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force from 1982 to 1985, deputy commander of the PLAAF from 1985 to 1994, and commander of the PLAAF from 1994 to 1996.
Early life
Yu Zhenwu was born in July 1931 in Kuandian, Liaoning, Republic of China. He enlisted in the army in December 1947 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in August 1949. After the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) was established, Yu transferred to the PLAAF and trained to become a fighter pilot. He was deployed in North Korea in the last few months of the Korean War.
Test pilot
In 1958, Xu Shunshou at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (then known as the 112 Factory) developed the Shenyang JJ-1, the first jet aircraft designed in China. After the first model crashed during a test flight, Yu, one of the top fighter pilots in the air force, was selected for the dangerous job as the test pilot for the second plane. On 26 July 1958, Yu successfully completed the maiden flight of the JJ-1, which has since been celebrated as a landmark in the history of Chinese aviation. In August 1958, Yu performed an air show at the celebration ceremony for the successful development of the JJ-1, which was attended by Marshal Ye Jianying and the PLAAF Commander Liu Yalou.
In 2004, China Central Television aired the documentary The Secrets of China's War Eagles (中国战鹰探秘), which includes an interview with Yu, to commemorate the maiden flight of the JJ-1.
Commander of Guangzhou MRAF and PLAAF
Yu later served as director of the Training Department of the PLAAF headquarters. In 1982, he succeeded Wang Hai as commander of the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force (MRAF). When Wang was promoted to commander of the PLAAF in July 1985, Yu was appointed his deputy and placed in charge of schools, training, and maintenance. He subsequently served as deputy commander under Wang's successor Cao Shuangming. He was the youngest but highest ranking deputy under both Wang and Cao. The other two deputy commanders, Lin Hu and Yang Zhenyu, both had served as commandant or deputy commandant of the PLAAF Command College. The choice of the three deputy commanders reflected the PLAAF's emphasis on training.
In November 1994, Yu was appointed commander of the PLAAF, replacing Cao Shuangming. He was the first post-Korean War veteran to serve as commander. He visited the United States in May 1995, but it was aborted by the People's Republic of China government when Lee Teng-hui, the president of the Republic of China on Taiwan, visited the US in spite of Beijing's protest. Yu attained the rank of full general in January 1996, and was elected an alternate member of the 13th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. He served two years as PLAAF commander before being replaced by Liu Shunyao in December 1996.
Death
Yu died on 29 September 2023, at the age of 92.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Zhenwu
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Yu Zhenwu's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what month and year was Yu Zhenwu born?
- A.September 2023
- B.August 1949
- C.July 1931correct
- D.December 1947
Yu Zhenwu was born in July 1931 in Kuandian, Liaoning.
Source: Early life
2.Where was Yu Zhenwu born?
- A.Guangzhou
- B.Shanghai
- C.Beijing
- D.Kuandian, Liaoningcorrect
Yu Zhenwu was born in Kuandian, Liaoning, Republic of China.
Source: Early life
3.In what year did Yu Zhenwu enlist in the army?
- A.1982
- B.1947correct
- C.1958
- D.1931
Yu Zhenwu enlisted in the army in December 1947.
Source: Early life
4.Which aircraft did Yu Zhenwu conduct the maiden flight for in 1958?
- A.Shenyang JJ-1correct
- B.Shenyang JJ-2
- C.Shenyang JJ-4
- D.Shenyang JJ-3
Yu Zhenwu conducted the 1958 maiden flight of the Shenyang JJ-1, which was China's first indigenously developed jet aircraft.
Source: Test pilot section
5.Who developed the Shenyang JJ-1 jet aircraft?
- A.Liu Yalou
- B.Wang Hai
- C.Xu Shunshoucorrect
- D.Ye Jianying
Xu Shunshou at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation developed the Shenyang JJ-1.
Source: Test pilot section
6.On what date did Yu Zhenwu successfully complete the maiden flight of the JJ-1?
- A.1 July 1931
- B.26 July 1958correct
- C.12 August 1958
- D.29 September 2023
On 26 July 1958, Yu Zhenwu successfully completed the maiden flight of the JJ-1.
Source: Test pilot section
7.Who attended the air show performed by Yu Zhenwu in August 1958?
- A.Cao Shuangming and Lin Hu
- B.Wang Hai and Yang Zhenyu
- C.Liu Shunyao and Lee Teng-hui
- D.Ye Jianying and Liu Yaloucorrect
The air show in August 1958 was attended by Marshal Ye Jianying and the PLAAF Commander Liu Yalou.
Source: Test pilot section
8.Yu Zhenwu served as commander of the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force during which years?
- A.1982–1985correct
- B.1994–1996
- C.1996–1998
- D.1985–1994
Yu Zhenwu served as commander of the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force from 1982 to 1985.
Source: Commander of Guangzhou MRAF and PLAAF
9.Who did Yu Zhenwu replace as commander of the PLAAF in November 1994?
- A.Wang Hai
- B.Lin Hu
- C.Liu Shunyao
- D.Cao Shuangmingcorrect
In November 1994, Yu Zhenwu was appointed commander of the PLAAF, replacing Cao Shuangming.
Source: Commander of Guangzhou MRAF and PLAAF
10.Which of the following people served as a deputy commander of the PLAAF alongside Yu Zhenwu?
- A.Liu Yalou
- B.Wang Hai
- C.Yang Zhenyucorrect
- D.Xu Shunshou
The two deputy commanders serving with Yu Zhenwu were Lin Hu and Yang Zhenyu.
Source: Commander of Guangzhou MRAF and PLAAF
11.In what year was Yu Zhenwu granted the rank of full general?
- A.1997
- B.1995
- C.1994
- D.1996correct
Yu Zhenwu attained the rank of full general in January 1996.
Source: Commander of Guangzhou MRAF and PLAAF
12.Who replaced Yu Zhenwu as PLAAF commander in December 1996?
- A.Lin Hu
- B.Cao Shuangming
- C.Wang Hai
- D.Liu Shunyaocorrect
Yu Zhenwu served two years as PLAAF commander before being replaced by Liu Shunyao in December 1996.
Source: Commander of Guangzhou MRAF and PLAAF
13.Which television network aired a documentary in 2004 that included an interview with Yu Zhenwu?
- A.Guangzhou Broadcasting
- B.Shanghai Media Group
- C.China Central Televisioncorrect
- D.Beijing Television
In 2004, China Central Television aired the documentary The Secrets of China's War Eagles, which included an interview with Yu Zhenwu.
Source: Test pilot section
14.What was the result of Yu Zhenwu's planned visit to the United States in 1995?
- A.It was attended by Liu Shunyao
- B.It was completed successfully
- C.It was postponed to 1996
- D.It was aborted by the Chinese governmentcorrect
Yu Zhenwu visited the United States in May 1995, but it was aborted by the government when Lee Teng-hui visited the US.
Source: Commander of Guangzhou MRAF and PLAAF
15.On what date did Yu Zhenwu pass away?
- A.29 September 2023correct
- B.26 July 1996
- C.15 August 2023
- D.1 December 1996
Yu Zhenwu died on 29 September 2023.
Source: Death
16.How old was Yu Zhenwu when he died?
- A.95
- B.90
- C.92correct
- D.85
Yu Zhenwu died on 29 September 2023, at the age of 92.
Source: Death
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