Hangzhou, Zhejiang native Jin Shaozhi is not your ordinary grandpa after flying a self-made airplane he calls the White Swan.

The 71 year old has spent eight years in training to assemble planes and how to pilot them. He spent more than US$30,000 in this endeavor. His latest creation, the White Swan, has the capacity to fly at a 1000-meter altitude. This was according to a media report in Hangzhou.

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The airplane enthusiast was a doctor by profession before his retirement a few years back. His interest in planes started about 30 years ago after working part time as a model airplane trainer. Jin’s team has won several awards during amateur model airplane contests held nationwide.

After retiring, Jin started making planes from scratch. He said that a person who knows about model planes would not find it so hard to make a real airplane and fly it. Furthermore he said the parts should be assembled according to the pattern after multiplying the specs of the model plane by six.

Jin has also received different trainings for various plane models. He also owns two Bee 3C model planes which he bought in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Bee 3C is a type of plane used for agricultural ventures.

According to Jin, his ultimate dream was to fly an airplane after being a fan of model planes for so long.
Jin finally gets to live his dream when he flew the White Swan.

The White Swan, a self-assembled gyroplane is valued at US$16,000. Jin said most of the parts he used for the White Swan were bought from hardware shops with the exception of the plane’s engine. He said it was purchased as a second hand item abroad. The self-assembled gyroplane can fly 1,000 meters. However, Jin flies at around 500 meters altitude to ensure safety.

There are only four people in Zhejiang, including Jin, who are capable of assembling planes and flying them. Meanwhile, the aviation authority of China does not allow private planes to fly without getting necessary approval. This would also mean banning their pilots from flying.

TagsJin Shaozhi, Zhejiang, White Swan, Bee 3C, model planes