Fire in the sky: Heavy metal display at Singapore Airshow 2010
If what they say about boys and their toys rings true, the Singapore Airshow 2010 basically boils down to a chest-thumping, spear-waving testosterone fest. A day before the biannual event opens Tuesday, February 2 the flying machines were making their presence felt in the skies above the island. CNNGo got a sneak preview of the aerial display as well as the exhibition ground, and we have to admit, there's a lot of heavy metal and firepower being paraded around -- check out our image gallery above to get a taste of what to expect.
The highlight of the whole event for public visitors is of course the aerial display, where various air forces and manufacturers from around the world show off their flying machines and how fast they go. As we mentioned previously in our sneak preview, the F-111 Aardvark strike aircraft, with its distinctive variable-sweep wings (they fold back for faster speed), will be making its last appearance in Asia and probably the world -- the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the sole remaining operator of the F-111 and will be decommissioning the planes shortly. During the aerial display, listen carefully to the commentators for the F-111's cue to do its famous "Dump and Burn" maneuver, where it jettisons part of its fuel reserves and ignites it with its afterburners. It's really quite awe-inspiring and images can't capture the sheer amount of fire it generates, but this video (courtesy of Singapore Airshow) might.
Another highlight is the Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s integrated air display, where one of its F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets slows down to allow an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter to do a coordinated fly-by. It's the first time this display will be seen in Southeast Asia.
The Singapore Airshow 2010 isn't just a sheer aerial spectacle for the masses -- it's an important meeting ground where military and aviation industries meet to make deals. More than 800 exhibiting companies from over 40 countries will participate in this year's show, with pre-registered attendance number already at 12,000-plus. This is up from the 2008 inaugural event which had more than 8000 attendees.
The public can look forward to the Airshow Carnival, with organizers of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games (YOG) showcasing sports for the global meet later this year, the appearance of YOG mascots Lyo and Merly as well as a host of other movie mascots. There will also be performances by the United States Air Force band and the Swiss Alpine band, and cultural booths to give a flavor of the Swiss, Belgium and Peranakan cultures.
Is the Airshow worth the S$20 (adult) ticket fee? Considering that it only comes every two years and the scale of the displays, we'd say yes, absolutely. But be prepared to go early -- the Changi Exhibition Centre isn't the most remote part of Singapore, but it comes close and crowds and traffic congestion is to be expected. Also, bring plenty of water and sunblock.
getting there
Singapore Airshow 2010
February 6 & 7 for public admission, 9.30am – 5.00pm
Tickets at $20 for adults and $8 for children under 12 years via Sistic
Changi Exhibition Centre, Aviation Link, Singapore
www.singaporeairshow.com
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