China Saturday retired all F-6 fighter jets from the active duty of its air force fleets, which has been undergoing an accelerating upgrading process with more self-developed advanced planes put into service in recent years.

As the country's first-generation supersonic fighter jets, the F-6 models took up an overwhelming majority in Chinese air forces from its birth in 1964 to 1986 when the country stopped its production.

The jets are still keeping the records of the longest service period in China and shooting down the most enemy aircrafts. According to China Central Television, more than 20 hostile planes were brought down in the combats with the F-6 jets between 1964 and 1968.

Made by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation from a prototype of the Russian Mig-19, the F-6 jets were developed into four models suitable for different tasks from fighting for air control to giving fire support to ground troops.

(CRIENGLISH.com June 13, 2010)