China successfully launches first plane off of carrier

This is a milestone. After 14 years when China acquired the derelict aircraft carrier Varyag from Ukraine, and after 18 months of refurbishing, The Varyag, now rechristened the Liaoning set sail from northern China.

China now joins an exclusive club of just five other nations. The U.S., Russia, France, India and Brazil. These are the only nations that operate full size carriers with fixed wing planes.

The plane being used in the exercise is the Shenyang J15 or the "Flying Shark"

a new era for China indeed

more on the J15 here