Lei Hu

Biodata

Background / History

Pilot Career and Command

Lei Hu was a fighter pilot before becoming a flight division commander. His nickname, “Lei the Tiger,” dated from his flying career and eventually became better known than his real name 5 14.

As commander of the Southwest 1st Aircrew Division, he oversaw frontline combat units facing Peacock Country. His division could not match northern units in equipment upgrades or wealthy eastern units in benefits; its principal strength was its experienced, frontline-tested pilots 14 16.

CM696 Hijacking

Lei Hu served as the military representative during the CM696 hijacking crisis. With the airliner approaching central Yuzhou, he received orders for the escorting fighters to shoot it down. When Li Zhi contacted the ground and reported that the hijackers had been subdued but both pilots were dead, Lei Hu demanded a change of heading within twenty seconds while his orderly investigated Li Zhi’s identity 4.

Learning that Li Zhi was a flight academy applicant gave Lei Hu hope that the aircraft could be saved. When Li Zhi’s excessively steep turn sent it into a dive, Lei Hu requested a captain experienced with that aircraft model. He handed communications to Wu Lei, a captain with more than 8,000 flight hours 5.

Although the descending aircraft again threatened the urban area, Lei Hu hesitated to destroy it while rescue remained possible. Li Zhi’s successful recovery into a climb removed the need for a shoot-down 6.

Recruiting Li Zhi

After the emergency landing, questions about Li Zhi’s actions threatened to keep him from attending the flight academy’s reexamination. Lei Hu vouched for him, believing that such an exceptional prospective pilot should not lose his opportunity 8.

Lei Hu followed Li Zhi’s progress throughout his four years at the academy. Before graduation, he persuaded his longtime friend Director Wang to assign Li Zhi to his division, using two bottles of fine liquor to help secure the agreement. His attempt to obtain additional recruitment places was refused 14.

After watching Li Zhi’s graduation assessment, including his Cobra Maneuver, Lei Hu believed he could soon qualify for solo flight and become combat-ready. He subsequently assigned him to the Bird’s Nest, also called Chicken Coop Base, where a pilot’s disabling injury had left the small unit struggling to maintain readiness 15 16.

Base Security and Reequipment

Lei Hu approved Xu Feng’s application for Li Zhi to fly solo without further questioning, trusting both Xu Feng’s judgment and Li Zhi’s ability. The approval made Li Zhi the Southern Military Region’s earliest-ever pilot cleared for solo flight 19.

When the Liu brothers used an armed drone to gather intelligence on Chicken Coop Base, Lei Hu dispatched more than two thousand troops. The force entered the forest in less than half an hour and surrounded the area. Concerned that a prolonged search could itself expose the classified base’s location, he ordered Xu Feng to borrow high-altitude night-vision equipment and capture the intruders that night. Li Zhi subsequently located them and helped force their surrender 22 24.

Following an aircraft accident and Xu Feng’s complaints about the base’s shortage of fighters, Lei Hu promised priority access to new aircraft within a month. Chicken Coop Base was subsequently allocated four Jiaolong 10Bs 28 30 32.

Recognition and Protection of Li Zhi

Lei Hu personally presented Li Zhi with a third-class merit medal and certificate. He explained that the unit’s rules prevented public recognition of the achievement. Privately, he felt that both this award and Li Zhi’s earlier commendation fell short of what his accomplishments deserved 30 31.

When 201 Airport placed Li Zhi under watch after an abrupt takeoff maneuver, Lei Hu summoned him to establish what had happened. Once the airport confirmed that pigeons had interfered with the flight, Lei Hu insisted on obtaining an explanation for the airport’s mistake and authorized Li Zhi’s departure 33 34.

Border Operations

Lei Hu participated in planning operations against Peacock Country. During the Sangji Ayi incident, he redirected Dragon Country’s pilots to monitor unusual Peacock movements, then ordered an orderly withdrawal after Peacock’s fighters stood down. He and the other informed senior officers did not blame Li Zhi for the provocation that had helped trigger the incident 31 37 38.

During the later border operation, Lei Hu ordered the operation to begin while Peacock’s air power was distracted by an aircraft incident. When an armed, unmanned Peacock fighter crossed into Dragon Country, he instructed Li Zhi to bring it down as intact as possible because its Eagle Country technology was of interest 47 48.

Li Zhi succeeded in bringing the fighter down intact using a jettisoned drop tank. Surprised and delighted by the result, Lei Hu promised to recommend him for a commendation 49.

Personality

Lei Hu is forceful and normally decisive, but his conduct during the CM696 crisis shows that he will preserve a chance of rescue rather than automatically choose destruction. Even with the airliner threatening Yuzhou, he struggled to extinguish the remaining hope represented by Li Zhi 4 6.

He places professional competence above status. During the airliner emergency, he personally yielded his seat to Wu Lei; later, he refrained from issuing further instructions when he could not fully understand Li Zhi’s airborne situation. Both actions reflect his preference for informed judgment over interference from the rear 5 48.

He is protective of promising personnel without wanting to rush their development. Despite his high expectations for Li Zhi, he considers slowing the young pilot’s progress if necessary to prevent damaging setbacks. He also abstains from alcohol despite being permitted to drink off duty, both to set an example and because frontline emergencies can arise at any time 14 30.

Abilities & Skills

Aviation Knowledge

• Fighter-pilot experience: His previous flying career gives him practical aviation knowledge 5.
• Flight-data interpretation: He can read civilian aviation radar instruments and recognize abnormal flight conditions, although his specialty is fighter aircraft 5.

Operational Command

• Rapid mobilization: Directs large-scale searches involving ground troops, helicopters, signal jamming, and airborne surveillance 22.
• Border coordination: Redirects patrols, orders withdrawals, and participates in planning operations against Peacock Country 31 37 38 47.
• Delegation: Relies on specialists and avoids issuing ill-informed orders when frontline personnel have a clearer understanding of conditions 5 48.

Personnel and Resource Management

• Talent recruitment: Identifies Li Zhi’s potential and secures his assignment before graduation 8 14.
• Training approval: Authorizes solo-flight clearance on the strength of a trusted subordinate’s assessment 19.
• Reequipment: Secures priority aircraft allocation for an under-equipped frontline base 28 30.

Relationships

• Li Zhi — Subordinate and personally recruited pilot. Lei Hu supports his academy candidacy, follows his development, and becomes his division commander 8 14 16.
• Xu Feng — Subordinate and Chicken Coop Base’s squadron leader. Lei Hu trusts his professional judgment, while Xu Feng persistently presses him for aircraft and funding 17 19 28.
• Director Wang — Friend of many years and academy director. Their familiarity allows spirited bargaining over recruits, but Wang refuses to alter established recruitment quotas 14.
• Wu Lei — Civilian captain entrusted with remotely instructing Li Zhi during the CM696 emergency 5.
• Director Chen — Yu Aircraft executive responsible for fighter reequipment. Lei Hu frequently needs his assistance with aircraft procurement 32.

Notable Quotes

“Leave professional matters to professionals.”
— Lei Hu’s guiding principle 5

“We're all destined to be unsung heroes. I hope you can understand!”
— Explaining the lack of publicity surrounding Li Zhi’s award 30

“Three-Yellow Chicken, bring it down. Try to keep it as intact as possible!”
— Ordering the interception of the unmanned Peacock fighter 48