Fighter jet scramble; helicopter troop insertion at RSAF55 Open House
Hear the roar of fighter jets and feel the heat of their engines at the RSAF55 Open House aerial capability display!// Reporter & Producer Thrina Tham / Photographer Kenneth Lin / Cameraman Zakee Teo
Scramble, scramble, scramble! Soon after an alert of a suspected bomb threat comes in, the airmen and women of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) get to their aircraft and are ready for take-off.
The public will get a glimpse of this action as part of the aerial capability display at the RSAF55 Open House this weekend.
The 20-min show will take place at 10.45am and 3pm on 9 Sep and 10.30am and 3pm on 10 Sep.
Apart from this show, visitors can catch an Aircraft Weapons Loading Demonstration on the F-16 fighter jet, and a Military Working Dogs Demonstration by 608 Squadron.
The event, which marks the RSAF's 55th anniversary, is non-ticketed and open to all. It is the air force's first open house after a seven-year hiatus.
Here are the top four things to do:
Check out the highlights of the capability display:
The first part of the display begins with a suspected bomb threat on a "hijacked" commercial airliner. The F-15SG air and ground crew scramble and are ready to prepare the jets in a matter of moments.
With pre-flight checks done, the F-15SG is ready for take-off. Marshalls guide the two F-15SG fighter aircraft to taxi to the runway.
The roaring rumble and heat of the aircraft engines can be heard and felt from show centre, as the jets prepare to take off.
The two F-15SGs take off side-by-side and make their way to the "hijacked" commercial airliner.
In the meantime, the SPYDER Missile System is deployed and makes its way to show centre. Part of the RSAF's enhanced Island Air Defence system, the SPYDER has anti-aircraft and anti-munition capabilities to intercept targets from the air.
Also deployed is a Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle high up in the sky, which transmits real-time footage to the show centre.
With the RSAF's air defence prowess in full force, the "hijackers" comply to landing the commercial airliner.
The A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) portrays the commercial plane as it flies across the open house fairground and makes its way to show centre.
The two F-15SG jets fly off after escorting the A330 MRTT to land safely. Mission success!
The second part of the Capability Display demonstrates the joint operations between the RSAF and other forces.
It begins with the F-15SG fighter jet swooping in to conduct a strike against a ground threat.
With the area cleared, the H225M Medium Lift Helicopter enters the scene for a quick troop insertion.
This is the H225M's debut at the RSAF open house and it replaces its predecessor, the AS332M Super Puma.
Elite soldiers from the Singapore Army's Guards formation disembark from the helicopter for a rapid insertion into the combat zone.
As the H225M helicopter exits the show centre, the Guardsmen and woman perform thrilling tactical moves to take out targets on the ground.
For more on the Open House, check out https://go.gov.sg/RSAF55OH – visitors can use this new interactive webapp to get real-time info, reserve slots and skip the queue for certain attractions.
There will be a free shuttle service (from 8am to 4.30pm) heading to and from Paya Lebar Air Base with pick up points at 18 Tai Seng or Hougang Bus Park.
