China`s 1st aircraft carrier

China’s first aircraft carrier Varyag sails in the Yellow Sea as shown in a satellite picture taken by DigitalGlobe of the U.S. Thursday last week. This is the first time for the refurbished Soviet vessel to be spotted sailing in the sea, though the Chinese government said Varyag departed from the port of Dalian for its first trial voyage on Aug. 10 and its second on Oct. 29 in the Yellow Sea. In the second trip, the Chinese carrier-based jet J-15 is known to have conducted a take-off and landing drill. Measuring 302 meters long and weighing 67,500 tons, the aircraft carrier is driven by a steam turbine and sails at 29 knots. China plans to deploy Varyag next year.