The Bayi aerobatics team, a People's Liberation Army Air Force team that flies J-10 fighters, took off just after 10 a.m. local time in Zhuhai, Guangdong, where the China Airshow 2024 is being held. But as crowds gathered on the tarmac to watch, low visibility made it difficult to make out the fighters and their colored smoke trails.
According to Accuweather, air quality in Zhuhai that morning was "poor" - which indicates a high level of pollution - as the city experienced higher levels of nitrogen dioxide.
In contrast, footage of rehearsals shows that the skies were far clearer in the days before the airshow proper, which runs from November 12 to 17. Attendees may get another chance to watch the aerobatics display under better conditions.
The national air show, the only one in the country supported by the central government, is meant to be a grand showcase of its latest aircraft, including the J-35A, which is largely seen as a rival to Lockheed Martin's F-35.
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