The Soviet Union designed and produced the Yakovlev 18 aerobatic trainer during the early days of the cold war and has produced thousands for their own use. The Chinese eventually acquired the design and produced their own version known and the Nanchang CJ-6A.

The Etchell aircraft was produced in 1964 and used by the Chinese airforce. The aircraft has been painted in the original military paint scheme. The Chinese character in the middle of the red star is "Bei yi" meaning eight-one; the eight month and the first day. This represents the date of the abortive peasant uprising on August 1, 1927.