Huang Zhiqian

Huang Zhiqian (; 24 January 1914 – 20 May 1965) was a Chinese aircraft designer. He served as Chief Designer of the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute and was in charge of designing the Shenyang J-8, China's first high-speed, high-altitude interceptor fighter jet. Before the project was completed, he died in the Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705 crash in Cairo, Egypt, in 1965.

Early life Huang was born Huang Yongxun on 24 January 1914 in Huaiyin County, Jiangsu, Republic of China. He continued to self-study, and was accepted into the Department of Mechanics of National Chiao Tung University, Shanghai in 1934. He graduated in 1937.

In October 1944, Huang was hired by Convair to work in the United States, where he participated in the manufacture and testing of the B-24 bomber. After the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II in 1945, Huang entered the University of Michigan to study aerodynamics. He then participated in the design of the Nanchang CJ-6 and the Nanchang Q-5 aircraft. He was later recognized by the Central Military Commission as a "martyr". After his death, Gu Songfen took charge of the J-8 project, and the jet took its maiden flight on 5 July 1969.