Voodoo Vince

Black Knights set to dazzle at S'pore Airshow

They will show off heart-stopping aerobatics in F1-16C Fighting Falcons

By David Boey


The Black Knights will perform at the Singapore Airshow 2008, to be held from Feb 19 to 24 at Changi North. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

THE Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aerial display team, the Black Knights, is all set to dazzle spectators with heart-stopping aerobatics at next month's Singapore Airshow.

Last seen in 2000, the new six-aircraft team will fly the the F-16C Fighting Falcons for the first time.

Introducing his line up of pilots on Thursday at Tengah Air Base, Lieutenant-Colonel Leng Wai Mun, 42, also known as Black Knight 1, said the 16 aerial manoeuvres packed into a 19-minute routine - set to rousing pop music - will keep spectators' eyes glued to the warplanes.

The Black Knights will perform at the Singapore Airshow 2008, to be held from Feb 19 to 24 at Changi North.

'We really want the public to have a field day watching the artistry in the air,' said the RSAF veteran who has flown F-5 Tigers and F-16s in his 23 years with the air force.

The Black Knights last performed at an airshow and the National Day Carvinal in 2000. The team then comprised six pilots who flew four A-4SU Super Skyhawks and two early A-model F-16s.

LTC Leng emphasised that while the team is 'not a full-time, professional team'', the Black Knights have pulled out all the stops to stage a memorable display.

The team scrutinised displays put up by the 11 earlier Black Knights teams, the first in 1973, for ideas on formation aerobatics.

LTC Leng and his team also visited Britain's Red Arrows aerial display team and the United States Air Force's Thunderbirds team last year to pick up ideas from foreign teams.

The result is a revamped routine that allows pilots to show off the agility the F-16C and the skill of the pilots as they criss-cross the skies trailing white smoke.

The warplanes will fly as close as three metres from one another, and perform their aerial ballet between 500 feet to 10,000 feet and hit speeds of up to 600 knots (1,111 km/h).

Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Chionh, 39, Black Knight 5, said: 'You shouldn't look away at any time. Take your cue from the commentator. The six F-16s have beautiful grace and precision.'

'The four-ship brings about more manoeuvrability but the solos bring this excitement because we're fast, we come in towards each other - I don't know why but we're doing it. That's always a crowd-pleaser; when two aircraft almost seem to collide but don't.'

'We're going to manoeuvre the aircraft to its limits, so don't miss anything.''

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_194808.html

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People don't plan to fail... They fail to plan.

lai

FYI to all

http://www.singaporeairshow.com.sg/

Voodoo Vince

Airshow tickets on sale at SingPost outlets, kiosks
By Karamjit Kaur, Aviation Correspondent

TICKETS for the all-new Singapore Airshow which flies into town next month are on sale at more than 60 SingPost outlets and about 250 automated kiosks islandwide.

Priced at $20 for adults and $8 for children under 12, they are also available online at www.singaporeairshow.com.sg and include a round-trip shuttle bus ride between Pasir Ris bus interchange and the new exhibition site built on reclaimed land near Changi Airport.

For the first time, the organiser is also offering a package deal - $100 for four tickets and a carpark pass. There are about 2,000 carpark spaces at the exhibition site.

As an added bonus, ticket holders will also get a rare chance to be one of the first few to take a ride on the new Singapore Flyer - a 165m tall giant observation wheel located at the Marina bay waterfront - before it officially opens on March 1.

Air show visitors will get 10 per cent off the normal rate of $29.50 for the Singapore Flyer ride during the air show week from Feb 19 to 24.

Only for trade visitors till Feb 22, the Singapore Airshow will be open to the public on the last two days.

Ttickets for the last Asian Aerospace, held here in 2006,cost $21 for adults and $7 for children, excluding booking fees.

The coming show is the first organised by a joint venture between the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Defence Science and Technology Agency.

The previous shows were organised by London-based Reed Exhibitions under the Asian Aerospace brand name.

Mr Jimmy Lau, the new show's managing director told The Straits Times that visitors can look forward to many attractions including aerobatics that were sorely missed at the last air show.

There are several aerial displays planned, including one by the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Black Knights and the Royal Australian Air Force's Roulettes.

Apart from the flying acts, visitors will be able to get up close and personal with more than 30 civil and military jets on static display.

These include the Airbus 380 double-decker jet which Singapore Airlines became the first to operate commercially in October and several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

More than 50,000 public visitors are expected.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_195168.html

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People don't plan to fail... They fail to plan.

KongMing

I will be there to watch it.

Those who are skilled in combat do not become angered, those who are skilled at winning do not become afraid.
Thus the wise win before the fight, while the ignorant fight to win ~~~ Zhuge Liang

Weiwei

where will the airshow be held?

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Voodoo Vince

At Changi North.

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People don't plan to fail... They fail to plan.

sychai

SINGAPORE : Tickets to the inaugural Singapore Airshow are now on sale. They are priced at S$20 for adults and S$8 for children.

Members of the public can get the tickets at all SingPost outlets and Self-service Automated Machines (S.A.M) machines or online at www.singaporeairshow.com.sg.

They can also call the Global Ticket Network at 6334-4222.

Some 50,000 people are expected to attend the airshow at the Changi Exhibition Centre on February 23 and 24.

Highlights include aerial displays by the Singapore Air Force's aerobatics team, The Black Knights, which will be making their first public appearance after eight years.

Visitors will also be able to view the newest aviation and aerospace technology at the exhibition hall.

The event is being held in conjunction with the launch of the Singapore Flyer on March 1.

Ahead of its official opening, Singapore Airshow ticket-holders will get a 10 percent discount on Singapore Flyer tickets from February 19 to 24.

The aviation and aerospace exhibition is jointly organised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Defence Science and Technology Agency. - CNA/ms

sychai

yes...
air show is back