RSAF Open House 2011 (Singapore), Day 1 (28th May).

9 am: an eager beaver!

The event was opened to the Public on 28th and 29th of May.  The location was the usual Paya Lebar Air Base.  To get there on Saturday, I took a free shuttle from Hougang Bus Interchange / MRT Station.  The other location was Eunos Bus Interchange / MRT Station.  This arrangement for free transportation was the same as RSAF OH 2008.

Upon reaching the air base, there was already a lot of people scurrying towards the security check point.  Luckily, the day was still early and there was very little or no queue as the security officers cleared the X-ray checks fairly quickly.  As per usual, I was requested to open up my bag since I had brought my DSLR and some lenses along to cover the event.  The RSAF had a strict regulation of not permitting any lenses 500mm and beyond to enter the compound.  The maximum reach for mine was only 200mm, so I was let through without issues.



9:30 am: a Big Yawn!
Oh, the excrutiatingly boring wait!

A smooth start for the day you say?  Well, not exactly... While trying to beat the crowd, I reached the air base at around 9am...  9:30am was the opening time, so we had to wait behind a line of RSAF embassadors (men and women in prominent yellow Polo shirt uniform) for the Guest of Honour to arrive and officiate the opening of the event.

Come 9:30am, the "gate" was still closed.  The weather wasn't exactly promising though, with dark clouds and grey sky looming above us.  An occasional drop of rain or two but nothing seriously compromising.  We were handed complimentary disposable raincoats, but luckily it had not come to that.  We continued to wait patiently, hoping that the weather would hold up.


Minutes before ten, the Guest of Honour finally arrived.  After a short speech, the "gate" finally opened.  Balloons, crackers popping and all.  The crowd all eager to break into the open compounds ahead of them filled with interesting static displays and activities.

Guest of Honour: Minister of Defense, Dr Ng Eng Hen, delivers the opening ceremony speech.

The star was no doubt the twin-engined, all-weather tactical fighter, making its first public appearance at this event.  Known to the aircraft fans as the F-15SG Strike Eagle, an advance version of the U. S. Air Force's F-15E, with minor customisation to RSAF's specifications.



One of the F-15SGs, opened up for public scrunity and viewing pleasure.

A few of the exhibits were fenced up. The purpose was to allow a demonstration of the re-arming procedures. The fencing up benefited us photographers, as it enabled a full and clear view of the subjects without people standing in front of the camera.

A fenced up F-15SG Strike Eagle exhibit.

Full frontal view of the same exhibit: the luxurious unobscured sight.

Another fenced up exhibit: the AH-64A Apache.

An F-16D with conformal fuel tanks, with the rest of the re-arming equipments.

Another interesting exhibit, a mobile surface to air missle platform.

Rear view of the same subject.

After a cursory walkaround of the static displays, I hurried to the grandstand to find myself a strategic positon as the air show was about to start at 11am.  There were already a few aircrafts being parked in front of the grandstand: two F-15SGs and two F-16Cs.  Another great photo opportunity to take completely isolated views of the two known subjects.

A pair of F-15SGs parked in front of the grandstand.

Head on view of the Viper!

A closer view.

To the left of the grandstand.

Front of the grandstand.

Right of the grandstand. The crowd started to pour in.  Beyond the line of standing spectators, the display exhibits in the far distance.

A C-130 Hercules taxi-ing down the runway.

Same "Charlie-One-Thirty" taking off minutes after.  Notice the interesting spirals of the propellers.

Uh, hello?  It's you again, eager beaver!

Yup, it's another round of boring waiting game...

Scanning the horizon.  Ok, I can still sense your enthusiasm!

Finally, ground crew appeared and was seen prepping the equipments.  An indication that the show was about to begin.  The two vans behind carried the crew members of the F-15SGs and F-16Cs.

Guest of Honour has arrived at the grandstand.  The show was minutes away from starting!

The air show finally begun at 11 am sharp!  The excitement could not be contained as it gave me goosebumps just to watch the F-15SGs being scrambled.  Previous 2008 event, it was the usual F-16Cs and F-5Ss taking the centerstage.  This year, and for the first time, we saw a darker shade of bluish greys passing right before our very eyes.  The magnificent Strike Eagles!

Final salutations before taking off.

Like natural predators, the Eagles, gracefully rolling off for their hunting trip.

The Vipers, followed closely behind.

Look at those General Electric F110-GE-129 twin cans burn!

Though not twins, the F100-PW-220/220E burner was just as cool, urm... I meant "hot"!

The old and trusty, twin-rotor workhorse of the RSAF, CH-47 Chinook, lifting a pair of Spider Light Strike Vehicles (LSV) in mid-air.

An AS332M Super Puma dropping off airborne troops.

Super Puma in its aggressive stance.

Spider LSVs firing off salvos of GPMG rounds.  Simply crackling!

Chinook coming back behind a thick smoke cover to pick up the troops amidst all the action.
There is no mistaking the twin-rotor silhouette!

Troop Extraction!

While the troops were being extracted, a pair of AH-64D Longbow Apaches watched over the scene.

With the show slowly winding down, the 4 jets returned for a final victory pass.

After a famous war movie, "The Eagle has Landed".

 F-16s followed suit.

After a successful hunting trip, the predators returning to their nest.

After the blood-rushing, adrenalin-pumping action has ended, I headed towards the exit as I had another appointment to keep. The crowd at this juncture has swelled to an unimaginable level. I was glad that I had to call it a day.  On my way out, I managed to capture a few shots.

A female AH-64D Apache pilot?

An F-15SG greeting visitors at the "gate".

Vietnamese Air Force and Army personnels outside the checkpoint.

Day 1 has been interesting and fruitful for me.  Hope you have enjoyed the photo journal.  Stay tuned for Day 2!