Airborne troopers prepare for the parachute landing in an Il-76 plane on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. [Photo: photobase.cn]

The Chinese air force Wednesday parachuted 10 elite airborne troopers to Galiba quake-hit region in Songpan county which is inaccessible by road.

Jumping off an Il-76 plane from an altitude of 4,600 meters, the troopers used satellite radios and aircraft guidance systems to help identify areas in which planes could airdrop relief material.

The troopers sent back their first report via satellite phone 13 minutes after jumping off the plane.

About an hour later, they guided cargo planes in airdropping nearly 10 tons of relief goods in the county.