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Chakrit Samithinan |
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Chakrit Samithinan & Saichol Krai-amat |
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Airbus A330 MRTT (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
After a hiatus of seven years, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) again organized an Open House to familiarize the Singapore public with the latest gadgets and weapons in their arsenal. This year’s event coincided with the 55th Anniversary of the RSAF and the theme of the show was “Defending our Skies – Securing our Future”. Admission was free for this two-day event which was held on Saturday, 9th September and Sunday, 10th September 2023 at the Paya Lebar Air Base.
The RSAF55OH featured a range of activities. Visitors could view different types of RSAF assets and they could find out more about the history and future of the RSAF at three interactive and engaging Exhibition Halls. In addition, they could observe what the RSAF called “impressive capability displays” showcasing the RSAF's operations and winners of a lucky draw were able to enjoy familiarization flights with the RSAF’s A330 MRTT aircrafts. Also, visitors found their physical RSAF55OH experience enhanced by a digital web app which provided pre-event activities and event information.
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Mc Donnell Douglas F-15SG Strike Eagle (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Fokker- 50 Maritime Patrol (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Diamond DA-40 (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Douglas A-4S Skyhawk (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Northrop F-5E Tiger (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
SPYDER Missile system (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
SPYDER Missile system (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Airbus H-225 Super Puma (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Airbus H-225 Super Puma (Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
Visitors were able to learn about the transformation of the RSAF through the years and its vision for the future through a number of exhibitions. Hall 1 documented the RSAF Story, Hall 2 was dedicated to “Our People, Our Air Force” and Hall 3 transmitted an outlook for future Air Bases showing the RSAF’s Smart Air Base Development Program which includes a simulator for the ordered F-35 Fighter jets.
The Static Display included 18 different RSAF assets some of which allowed cockpit and cabin entries to the public. The static exhibition consisted of the following assets: F-15SG, upgraded F-16 fighter, A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), AC-130 transport aircraft; G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft; Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol aircraft, AH-64D Apache attack helicopter, CH-47F Chinook helicopter, H225M medium lift helicopter, S-70B Seahawk Naval helicopter, H-450 and Heron 1 UAVs, Aster 30 Missile System, SPYDER Missile System, RBS 70, SHIKRA radar and a Mobile Air Traffic Control Tower. The Singapore Youth Flying Club's DA40 Trainer Aircraft was also on static display.
Airbus H-225 Super Puma (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Airbus H-225 Super Puma (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
Airbus A330 MRTT (Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
A number of what the RSAF termed “Capability Displays” took place in the morning as well as in the afternoon to showcase the operations, capabilities and commitment of the RSAF and its personnel. This segment began with an H225M medium lift helicopter dropping commando units on to the ground in order to extinguish a terrorist threat on the base. Thereafter, two F-15SG’s took off to intercept an unidentified transport aircraft and to force it to land at the base. The intruder was portrayed by an A330 MRTT aircraft of the RSAF. Unfortunately, the interception in the air was not visible from the ground and was shown by means of a pre-recorded video only. After a little while, the two F-15 attacked a simulated ground target and returned to the base. This was followed by the deployments of the SPYDER Missile system and of the Heron 1 UAV. The SPYDER missiles appeared to destroy a target on the ground and the HERO UAV showed surveillance pictures of enemy positions and of the air base. The attack and the surveillance pictures were however not shown live as they were pre-recorded on video days before the event. This part of the show was concluded by fighter weapon loading demonstrations on F-15 and F-16 aircrafts which could be observed at close range.
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
The author visited the Open House on the Saturday and was welcomed at the base not only by a very long queue of people waiting to go through the security check but also by intermittent rain which later turned into a heavy downpour of at least 30 minutes. The flying activities were extremely short and during the morning show hampered by heavy rain. The F-15SG’s actual time when they were visible in the air was only a few minutes and the remaining time was taken up by take-off and landings. For a photographer, this had to be a disappointment because the expectation was that several RSAF aircrafts would be shown in the air which, with the exception of the H225M helicopter and the A330 MRTT , was not the case.
While the organizers did a fairly good job to manage the vast number of people visiting the base, long waiting times at the food stalls and the shuttle bus stations dampened the enthusiasm of many visitors including the author. Finally a word about the number of visitors. The last Open House seven years ago attracted 240’000 visitors and numbers published by the RSAF after this year’s event spoke of 268’000 visitors. These are remarkable numbers which are not being achieved by any of the much larger European Airshows.
All things considered, a very successful event for the RSAF and the people of Singapore but a disappointing event for the perhaps somewhat spoilt author.
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Saichol Krai-amat)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
(Picture courtesy Chakrit Samithinan)
