Yang Xianyi (1891—1923), a.k.a. Sen Yat Young, with ancestral origin in Beitai Village, joined in the Tongmenghui or the Revolutionary Alliance. He received his higher education in the University of Hawaii and Harry University of California, majoring in mechanical engineering. After his graduation, he was enrolled at the Curtiss Aviation School in New York for further study of aircraft manufacturing and driving skills and got the pilot’s license.

In 1917 he organized the airplane fleet, and went back to Guangzhou to support the campaign to protect the republic. He was appointed Captain of the airplane fleet by Sun Yat-sen.

In 1922 he went to America to raise funds from the overseas Chinese and purchased 12 airplanes, including 4 donated by his father Yang Zhukun. In December, he was commissioned by President Sun Yat-sen as Head of Aviation Bureau and also the director of Guangdong Aircraft Manufactory in Guangzhou. On July 1923, the factory made China’s first self-designed military airplane, named “Rosamonde” after Soong Ching Ling’s English name. The naming ceremony and trial flight were held at Dashatou Airport in Guangzhou.

In order to destroy the Huizhou City Wall, he went to Meihu of Boluo to check bomb facilities, and died from an accidental explosion at the age of 32.