Head in the clouds, feet on the ground

"On my resume, my qualifications cover a whole page, but for other people, they might only take up one line," he said. "I even flew decommissioned fighter jets in the US. That was amazing because those planes are so powerful and you can perform so many movements with them, such as high-altitude rolls."

Private aviation prepares for takeoff in China

Chariots of the gods

Wang Lulu is in charge of the airfield's small marketing department. "It's a busy time. Business is improving all the time," the 25-year-old said, excusing herself to answer a phone call from a client who was inquiring about courses and fees.

Business boom predicted

Dou predicted that business is set to boom as more people learn to fly all-purpose aircraft. "For the first time in the three years since it was built, the airfield is starting to break even. Last month, we didn't lose a penny," he said.

Dou also owns an energy company in Tianjin, which he started in 1997, when the government opened the energy market to private enterprise. Having started out selling daily necessities such as toilet paper and sanitary towels, Dou grasped his opportunity and is now a yuan billionaire.

"I didn't go to college, and didn't even graduate from high school. I never imagined that one day I would have a life like this and own an airfield," he said.

"Flying is like a dream. I am glad I managed to do it and have helped many of my friends to do it, too," he said. "At the very beginning I just wanted to build an airfield for myself, I didn't realize it would become a business. Of course, it will be better if I can make money. I think I can."