China's largest state-owned aircraft maker said on Tuesday that it has started to extend the China Aviation Museum for a series of celebrations to mark the nation's rarely-known aeronautic centennial and the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.

The extension will increase the exhibition area to more than 10,000 square meters for a military air show and an aviation exhibition around Nov. 11, said Lin Zuoming, general manager of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The project will be jointly conducted by the AVIC and the Air Force and finished in September, according to the company.

The China Aviation Museum, owned by the Air Force, is the largest of its kind in China.

Based in Changping District of Beijing's northern outskirt, it was opened to public on Nov. 11, 1989 and displays about 300 historic aircraft including a prototype made by China's first aviator Feng Ru.

Feng (1884-1912) made his first successful flight in Oakland, California by piloting the first airplane designed and made by Chinese on Sept. 21, 1909.

According to the AVIC, the aviation exhibition will display all the historical achievements in the 100-year development of China's aeronautic industry.

The air show will demonstrate various aircraft used by the PLA Air Force in different periods of time, surface-to-air missiles, radars and other equipment.

The PLA Air Force was founded on Nov. 11, 1949 when it was soon engaged in the war to resist U.S. and aid Korea, or the Korean War in 1950s.

This year marks many celebrations for the military and civilians in China, in which a grand military parade will be held on Oct. 1 for the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

In April, the PLA Navy held an unprecedented maritime parade and an international fleet review attended by 21 foreign warships in the Yellow Sea to celebrate its 60th founding anniversary.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2009)