RSAF’s Open House and Aircraft Joyride

 The RSAF Open House had many unique experiences from advanced trainers such as combat aircraft flight simulators, air traffic communication trainers and virtual-reality aided maintenance courses to exclusive joyrides in otherwise inaccessible RSAF aircraft. This August, I was given the exclusive privilege to visit the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Open House a day earlier than the public would have been able to.

Upon arrival, we were greeted at one of the main buildings of the airbase, which was beautifully adorned with murals and historic articles on the RSAF’s contributions to our nation’s defense and security. From the building to the airport’s tarmac, we could clearly see a formation of Diamond DA-40s lining up for takeoff, and behind them were CH-47 Chinooks, C-130s and Fokker 50s that were patiently waiting their turns to take off. Never have I ever seen so many military aircraft revving to go in such a manner. It truly reminded me of the elephant walk pictures which I had seen online, with each aircraft waiting in line for a mass takeoff. As the Diamonds soared into the sky, followed shortly by the Chinooks, all eyes were laid on the C-130s and Fokker 50s as these spectacular flying machines lifted off.

Like many other interested students, I dashed out of the cover of the sheltered building into the scorching sun to catch a better view of these magnificent machines. I was truly impressed with the showcase of our air force’s inventory. What a spectacle to behold! The capability display were amazing too, watching the F-15SGs startup and initiate a simulated intercept, and escort fly-by highlights the bravery and diligence of our air force.

Overlooking the runway and tarmac, I felt an odd sense of tranquillity watching, for the first time, a Chinook taxi languidly. Though I see them in the sky every August 9th, seeing this one takeoff embodied the essence of the open house for me – a behind-the-scenes appreciation of our nation and its Air Force.

Part of the appreciation came from getting to know the work our Air Force does and gaining first-hand experiences. Hence, the highlight of my visit to the RSAF Open House was easily the familiarisation flight on the new A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). It was a novel experience to fly not for the purpose of getting somewhere, but to experience the aircraft and enjoy the flight experience itself. Not a flight taking me to some far-flung resort, but one for me to appreciate the capabilities of the aircraft that gave us a story of the ground below. It reminded me of this paragraph from Colson Whitehead’s ‘The Colossus of New York’:

         “Wake up. With a shudder finally kicked out of the dream. Impossibly, this gigantic creature has taken off. This unlikely gargoyle with impossible wings. How we flutter sometimes. Settle in for the journey and forget. Please forget. Try to forget bit by bit, it will be easier on you. Leave it behind. Then the plane tilts in its escape and over the grey wing the city explodes into view with all its miles and spires and inscrutable hustle and as you try to comprehend this sight you realise that you were never really there at all.”

As a Singaporean, I am not unfamiliar with the gripe that Singapore is too small to be interesting. However, the familiarisation flights reminded me that there is a Singapore I don’t know despite having lived here all my life. The unique experience of flying below the clouds at 2500 feet gave me views of the city that had me pressing my face up against the window. It was a familiarisation flight meant to acquaint the public with the RSAF’s aircrafts, but it was also a familiarisation of Singapore from a different perspective.

The day at the RSAF Open House was one of those rare instances when I felt like I could stare at an aircraft from takeoff to an indistinguishable dot in the sky, immersing in the once-powerful roar of its engine echoing in a rest-less sky. And when my gaze returned to the ground, no one would be giving me a look that said, “It’s just a plane” – because everyone else was watching it as well. Of course, watching the Diamond DA-40s lining up for takeoff, CH-47 Chinooks, C-130s and Fokker 50s waiting on the tarmac was undeniably a sight to behold. The showcase of our Air Force’s inventory was magnificent in every way. But the memory of sights and sounds blur with time in a way that feelings do not; the memory of feeling my sternum vibrate in tandem as the F-15s takeoff will fade eventually, but the feeling of wonder and pride it inspires stays. 

Photo Credits: NUS Aviation Club