Friday, February 22, 2008
Singapore Airshow 2008
Today after my meeting in the morning, I zoomed over to the EXPO in record time, parked and took the most expensive bus ride of my life of $5 to the Changi Aerospace exhibition Centre. Security was pretty tight, but I went there in uniform since the weekdays are for military personnel and trade partners/exhibitors. This is one airshow not to be missed!It's a rare opportunity to get to attend such a large event, one compared with mega-airshows around the world like Farnborough and Dubai. I reached there before 3pm, and the crowd was immense. I was pleasantly greeted by my colleagues , who had been waiting there for me since 10am!
We went through all the exhibits, all the latest vehicles, weapons and aircraft in both the military and civilian sectors. Of course, the main attractions like the F-15, F-16D+ Blk 52, F-35 (!), the B-1 Lancer bomber!, the hummingbird UAV, GlobalHawk UAV, a whole assortment and myriad of EC-Eurocopters and Gulfstream, Learjet private aircraft, and of course, the crown jewel. The Airbus A380 in all its full glory. Unfortunately due to time constraints and the security hassle, we didn't board the A380, neither could we enter the fighter aircraft, as they were all cordoned off even to military personnel.
We took tons of pictures, then visiting all the big boys exhibits in the exhibition hall. The picture quality sucked, (I don't have a DSLR), but that's all that we have. Boeing, Honeywell, Thale, ST Engineering, EADS, MBDA, Pratt & Whitney, GE etc etc.
There was another exhibition hall displaying small arms and ammunition, and even armored vehicles and lots of jet engine cut-aways and scale-models. A truly exciting day indeed, very productive and fruitful.
The mega Airshow space.
Our own LSV with Spike Missiles
Our pride of self-propelled artillery, the Primus Howitzer.
Our brand new Leopard 2 MBT.
Longbow-Radar equipped Apache AH-64
This is the JSF or F-36 Lighning II, the next-gen aircraft with VTOL capability that is slated to replace our F-5 tigers.
The Boeing/Rockwell B-1 Lance supersonic bomber
F-15 Eagle
The F-16D+ Blk 52 fighter with conformal fuel tanks and ECM pods.
USAF's F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Ahhh... The A380 herself.
SIA's 2008 pride and joy, the A380 super jumbo powered by R&R Trent Engines.
The A380 in all her full glory.
Testing out ST Kinetic's modifications to the SAR-21, there were other exhibits like the 40mm grenade launcher, the modified SAW Ultimax-100 and the Personal Defence weapon.
Lurveee the Trent engine!
Simulated Jet exhaust.
P&W turbofan models.
There are too many pictures to show, if you do want to see them for yourself, do go down to the Airshow this weekend! Weekdays are for military personnel, and the Airshow is open to the public
23 - 24 February 2008, 9.30 am - 5.00 pm (This weekend) Tickets for adults are $20.
You cannot drive there unless you have a special pass, otherwise, drive/take the Mrt to the EXPO, then take a $5 shuttle bus ride over to the CEC.
For more information, visit http://www.singaporeairshow.com.sg/
