BEIJING, Oct. 1, 2009 -- China's military aircraft to fly over the Chang'an Avenue and Tian'anmen Square as part of a military parade took off from their bases Thursday morning and headed for the center stage of China's National Day celebration in downtown Beijing.

All the 151 fighters, bombers, helicopters and other types of military planes, led by an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft, Kongjing-2000, will meet at their rendezvous point to build up 12 aerial formations.

The aircraft to perform the air show are selected from the People's Liberation Army's air force, naval aviation and army aviation.

Following the giant AEWC aircraft formations, the air force's J-10, multirole third-generation fighter aircraft designed and manufactured with China's indigenous technology, are part of the air squadrons.

Female fighter pilots for the first time join in the National Day parade, flying 15 jet aircraft at the end of the air formation.