Military Career
Nie was born in Yangdang town of Zaoyang, Hubei Province. After graduating from high school he joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force and became a fighter pilot. During his training at the PLAAF's No. 7 Flying School he was:
- Commander of a flight squadron
- Deputy Commander of a group
- Master navigator
Nie graduated in 1987 and continued his career in the PLAAF. He has reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
On 12 June 1989 while flying at 13,000 feet (4000 m) his plane suffered an explosion and he lost his engine. The plane began to spin to the ground and the cabin began to heat up. Trying to regain control he waited until the plane was 1300 to 1700 feet (400 to 500 meters) before choosing to eject. For his handling of the situation he was honored with third-class merit.
Read more about this topic: Nie Haisheng
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