Meet the ‘professional’ air buffs willing to pay over the odds to get far from the madding crowd at China’s biggest air show
- For hard-core enthusiasts paying extra for an early bird ticket intended for industry representatives is money well spent
For Chinese military buff Meng Yong, forking out the equivalent of US$1,000 to attend the country’s biggest air show as a “professional” was money well spent.
Although the 54-year-old has actually taken early retirement, buying an early-bird ticket – which in theory are reserved for trade visitors, such as aerospace executives, diplomats and arms dealers – allowed him to explore the stalls at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition during the relatively quiet periods before the weekend rush when the event is open to the public.
“It’s my first time taking part in the air show. I am so excited,” said Meng, who flew 1,800km (1,100 miles) from his home in Shandong province to the show ground in Guangdong.
“I had been longing to visit the show since it first kicked off in 1996. But I didn’t know how to buy tickets until I made a friend in Shenzhen [a southern city close to the site of the show in Zhuhai].
“He is a military enthusiast and regular visitor to the air show. He taught me how to do.”
