By YHF

Zipping across the blue sky with a thunderous, yet hypnotic roar, the F-16C Fighting Falcon and the F-15SG Eagle announced their entry to a spellbound audience at the aerial display of Singapore Airshow 2012 – hosted at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) - with a bang. The pride of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the F-16C and F-15SG have shown how much Singapore has progressed as a military powerhouse in Southeast Asia since the late 60s. Not only that, its pilots’ proficiency and flying skills have improved by leaps and bounds, and nowhere is this evident than this flight demonstration at Asia’s largest and one of the three most important aerospace and defence exhibitions in the world.

The supersonic tango went on for a good 12 minutes, and what a performance it was. At the controls of the F-15SG was Major Yip Chuang Syn while Major Desmond Too piloted the F-16C. Both pilots took turns to show off their manoeuvring skills by whipping into high-G tight turns and power climbs that sent them soaring several thousand feet into the vertical from horizontal flight in mere seconds.

The F-15SG Eagle

What really captured the attention were a few standout moves – Major Too flying his F-16C inverted over Major Yip’s F-15SG before they went in different directions at searing speed and Major Too deliberately slowing his jet to a crawl in a cobra-like posture while Major Yip streaked past him just inches away at full afterburner.

However, nothing beat their most daring manoeuvre, the Integrated Needle Cross. In this move, both jets cranked their afterburners to 2000km/h before rocketing past each other at close proximity.

Giving a run for the dynamic duo’s money was the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s “Smokey Bandits” aerobatic display team. Flying Russian-made MiG-29Ns in a five-plane formation, the Smokey Bandits gained their reputation for leaving behind a black trail of jet vapour when they perform. Four-point and barrel rolls, star burst, high-G turns and swooping loops were their forte. Like all jet pilots, their repertoire would not be complete without crisscrossing one another’s path at supersonic speeds.

Not to be upstaged, turboprop planes from Australia also showed their speedy airborne brethren they could pirouette and execute daredevil stunts just as competently and spectacularly. One of these was the Rebel 300, piloted by Tony Blair (not to be mistaken for the former British Prime Minister), an ex-Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilot with 20 years of combat aircraft flying experience. The other turboprop planes were the Pilatus PC-9/A and flown by the RAAF Roulettes, an elite formation aerobatic display team that showcases RAAF’s flying skills to the Australian public, and now, to an international audience at the Singapore Airshow.

Rounding off the flight display was the lumbering Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a military transport plane that can deploy troops or vital food supplies and ammunition. Although it was slow, it could turn rather gracefully. Truly a gentle beast.

If you think excitement is only limited to the air, you are missing out on all the good stuff on the ground. In the static aircraft display at the fairground of the CEC, you can get up close and personal with RSAF’s F-15SG Eagle, F-16D+ Fighting Falcon, AH-64 Apache, S-70B Seahawk, G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft and Hermes 450 and Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Aside from the previously mentioned aircraft, RSAF also showed off its Spyder-SR Air Defence System – a surface-to-air anti-missile/aircraft platform mounted on a heavy truck that can fire a spread of infra-red and radar-guided missiles in quick succession with precision to intercept multiple targets.

The Spyder-SR Air Defence System

Too much aggression in the planes talked about so far? There is always the Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner, Singapore Airlines’ latest acquisition. Touted to be able to fly from one destination to the next without the need for transit flights, the Dreamliner is a medium-sized plane that uses 20 percent less fuel than similarly-sized airliners without compromising its speed of Mach 0.85, which is also around the speed of today’s fastest jumbo jets.

A dream come true for all passengers. The 787-8 Dreamliner.

The Dreamliner’s cabins are designed with the passenger in mind, with larger dimmable windows, lower cabin altitude, ambient LED lighting and a cleaner ventilation system. Its seats are made of elegant-looking upholstery and have bigger legrooms than its mid-sized contemporaries.

Dynamic LED lighting adds a touch of class to the Dreamliner's travel experience.

Singapore Airshow 2012 Details

Public Day Opening Hours

18 Feb 2012 (Sat)

9:30am - 5:00pm

19 Feb 2012 (Sun)

9:30am - 5:00pm

Last admission time at 4:30pm (Sat & Sun)

Flying display timings: 11am – 12pm, 3pm – 3.30pm (Sat & Sun)

Ticket Prices

Adult – S$20*

Child (12years & below) – S$8*

Family Package – S$120* (4 entries & 1 car park label)

*Tickets are to be purchased in advance at SISTIC sales counters or www.sistic.com. Ticket prices include a two-way Airshow Shuttle transfer from Singapore Airshow Terminal 3 Coach Stand at Arrival Hall level, but exclude SISTIC booking fees. Limited tickets are available on-site for purchase at S$30 for Adult and S$15 for Child.

For more information on the Singapore Airshow, visit http://www.singaporeairshow.com/