Black Knights: Paya Lebar Airbase Open House

Photo: Black Knights Aircraft, Pilot and Admirers

Black Knights: Paya Lebar Airbase Open House

The darlings of the RSAF Open House held in August 2008 were undoubtedly the Black Knights, for both the men and women who visited Paya Lebar Airbase.

Even though the Black Knights were the object of their desires at the Paya Lebar Airbase, both sexes had very different ideas on what attracted them. The male visitors were seen ogling at the photogenic curves of the Black Knights – the F-16 aircraft. The ladies who braved the sun and hot weather were seen posing with the photogenic Black Knights – the pilots. So although there was a perpetual crowd at the Black Knights display, these two groups of visitors had diverse agendas.

If you observe carefully, there’s actually another group of visitors who were attracted to the Black Knights. These sweaty fellows were really hot under the collar. They could be of either sex. They could be of different age groups.

Image: Black Knights 'Umbrella'

They were the ones who sought shelter from the scorching hot sun under the belly and wings of the Black Knights aircraft.

Read related articles in my SeenThisSceneThat:

1. Air Force RSAF Open House
2. Hot Air Balloon at Paya Lebar Airbase
3. Black Knights F-16 For Sale

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F-16 Fighting Falcons For Sale In Singapore

F-16 Fighting Falcons For Sale In Singapore

Did you know that there are F-16 Fighting Falcons for sale in Singapore? You can buy an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter plane at a bazaar sale at Paya Lebar Airbase in Singapore. The price of each F-16 Fighting Falcon starts from S$125 per aircraft. Every one of the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft sold in Singapore is brand new and in mint condition. You can bring one F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter plane back home after your purchase and park it in your bedroom without any worry about getting a pilot’s license, military clearance, legal papers or hangar rental fees.




Yes, the F16 Fighting Falcons for sale in Singapore that I am referring to are miniature model aircrafts sold by the SAF Officers’ Wives Club. These plastic F-16 plastic models and many other types of military models were on sale during the two days of the Singapore Air Force Open House 2008 that were open to the public at the end of August 2008.

At my last visit to the Open House, crowds could be seen hanging around the booth where these F-16s were displayed after an impressive live aerial display by the F-16 Fighting Falcons during the Open House.

Part of the proceeds from the sales of F-16 and other aircraft models were in aid of charitable communities and organizations in Singapore like the SAF Benevolent Fund, ST Pocket Money Fund and Food From the Heart.

If you are interested, follow this link to read about the charity arm of the SAF Officers’ Wives Club, the women behind the military men.

Read more in Seen This Scene That:
1. RSAF Open House
2. Hot Air Balloon Ride

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Hot Air Balloon Ride In Singapore

Hot Air Balloon Ride In Singapore

I had missed an earlier opportunity for a hot air balloon ride some years back in Gold Coast, Australia. Wife and I had booked us on a hot air balloon ride but due to poor weather, the flight was cancelled at the last moment. I remember that point in time clearly as I was woken up to receive the news at 5.02am.

When another opportunity presented itself for a chance to win a hot air balloon ride during the Singapore Air Force Open House, I was elated. Much as I would have liked, my family did not manage to get on board the hot air balloon at Paya Lebar Airbase this time.

Photograph: Aviation Carnival

We arrived late to cast our tickets for the first Hot Air Balloon Ride lucky draw in the Singapore Air Force Open House. With the delay in the launch of the hot air balloon ride on the morning of 30th August 2008, coupled with our family schedule to leave the Air Force Open House 2008 early, the opportunity to ride the hot air balloon was lost.

The closest we could get to a hot air balloon ride was at the Aviation Carnival at Paya Lebar Airbase. This was located at the stadium in the Airbase where an un-inflated hot air balloon sat next to an empty basket in the center of a field. It was also a pity we could not witness any hot air balloon ride high up in the sky of Singapore as we had to leave early.

Photo: Empty Basket For A Deflated Hot Air Balloon Ride

The odds of winning a free ticket to get onboard a hot air balloon were extremely slim. Many visitors were ahead of us and more were streaming into the carnival zone to add their tickets into the luck draw box. The single hot air balloon did not look like it could accommodate more than 5 or 6 ‘high flyers’ at a time.

Picture: Promo Illustration of Hot Air Balloon Ride

I noticed the name “Wanderlust” printed on the hot air balloon of the Air Force News magazine’s promotional picture of this ride. A check on the web revealed that there was such a company providing hot air balloon ride. One of their hot air balloons called ‘Timepeace’ has the same colours and stripes as the balloon ride in the promotional picture.

According to Wanderlust's hot air balloon ride website, only four passengers can get on the hot air balloon at any one time. Their one-hour sunrise hot air balloon ride will cost US$185 per person. Unlike the DHL Balloon Ride that is anchored by wires, riders of Wanderlust’s hot air balloon will get to float across the sky with the pilot having no idea where the hot air balloon will land at the time they lift off from the ground. As hot air balloons move according to the wind, the weather condition and wind speed have major influences on the decision to take off or to wait.

Hopefully next year’s Open House will offer another opportunity for a hot air balloon ride.

You can click here to read about yg's hot air balloon ride in Cairns.

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1. Air Force Open House

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Singapore Air Force RSAF Open House 2008

Poster courtesy of RSAF

Singapore Air Force RSAF Open House 2008

The Republic of Singapore Air Force RSAF celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2008. As part of the celebrations, the Singapore Air Force RSAF Open House 2008 will be held on 30 August 2008 and 31 August 2008 at Paya Lebar Airbase. Admission to the RSAF Open House 2008 is free for the public, from 9am to 7pm daily.

Highlights of the two-day Singapore Air Force RSAF Open House 2008 include:

Aerial Displays
Watch the F16 Fighting Falcons, AH64 Apache Attack Helicopters, CH47 Chinook underslung operations and the Red Lions parachute free fall displays and be awed by them all.

Static Displays
Touch and feel the F16 Fighting Falcon Black Knight, AH64 Apache and Hermes 450 amongst the static displays. Black Knight pilots will also be making special appearances, although I’m unsure if you can ‘touch and feel’ them!

Real Aircraft Rides
Ride in a real C130 Hercules, Fokker 50 or CH47 Chinook aircraft. And be airborne to watch the Singapore Air Force RSAF Open House 2008 from high up in the air! Children will love this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Lucky Draws will determine who flies and who cries.

Hot Air Balloon Rides
For the first time ever, Hot Air Balloon ride will be available at the RSAF Open House 2008! Participate in the Hot Air Balloon Ride Lucky Draw and win a 150-feet lift up in the air.

Air Force Museum
Learn about the history of the Singapore Air Force RSAF from its inception till today. This will likely be one of the better ways to beat the scorching heat, as the Air Force Museum cool air-conditioning. Read my post on visit to Air Force Museum here.

Kids Zone
The Kids Zone has been set up to entertain children. They can enjoy fantastic times at the carnival game stores and participate in many kid-friendly activities while waiting for the Hot Air Balloon Rides or Aircraft Rides lucky draw results.

Photo Taking in RSAF Uniform
For a fee, you can dress up your children in RSAF uniform with an Air Force-related backdrop to take photographs as mementoes.

Performances
Get close to MediaCorp artistes Jessica Liu and Dawn Yeoh LIVE! Be entertained, play stage games and win prizes! SAFRA Radio will be there, the SAF Music and Drama Company will show their flair. The SAF Provost Unit's Silent Precision Drill Squad will dazzle with their footwork and precision rifle drills.

Flight Simulator Visits
Catch the shuttle service to the Flight Simulator Centre and get the rush as you fly RSAF aircrafts on the advanced simulator systems that are used to train pilots. Adults and children can try it to see if they have what it takes to be a Top Gun!

Exhibitions
Five Segments at the RSAF Pavilion will showcase the 40 years of development in the RSAF and its transformation into the 3rd Generation Air Force. Take a walk through the Heritage Segment to witness the transformation journey of RSAF, the Structure Segment to learn more about the newly set-up RSAF Operational Commands, the Operational Concept segment to learn how RSAF exploits new Operational Concepts to maximise the use of air power for SAF, the People Segment to see recent humanitarian and peace keeping operations and the Technology Segment for latest developments in RSAF.

Commemorative Stamps
As this is the 40th Anniversary of the RSAF since founding in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command, 5 commemorative stamps with the First Day Cover and Presentation Pack will be officially launched on 28 Aug 08 at all SingPost Post Offices. Visitors to the RSAF Open House 2008 can buy them to keep a piece of Singapore’s military aviation heritage.

Fund Raising Event
SAF Officers' Wives Club will raise funds at a booth filled with used books, aircraft models and RSAF memorabilia for sale. Collect your favourite RSAF or aviation-related souvenirs and help charities including the SAF Benevolent Fund and Food From the Heart.

How To Get There
Free shuttle bus services from Hougang SBS Transit Bus Interchange and Eunos SBS Transit Bus Interchange. Free Shuttle Service- operating hours: 0830 hrs to 2000 hrs

Security Advisory
For security reasons, do not carry any sharp objects such as knives, paper cutters, etc, Cameras are allowed, but not telephoto lenses that are 500mm and beyond.

For finer programme details: (Singapore Air Force RSAF Open House 2008)
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/rsaf/oh08/highlights/programme.html

Read all in RSAF Open House 2008 website:
http://www.mindef.gov.sg/rsaf/oh08/

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1. Hot Air Balloon Ride

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