7 Sep 2017 marked the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Indonesia, and to honour this significant milestone, a Leader’s Retreat was held in Singapore at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre. Present at the retreat were Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, along with cabinet ministers. A special joint flypast was conducted by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) under the callsign “RISING 50” to commemorate this day. (Click the following links for our earlier articles on RISING50: Article 1, Article 2)
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) and President Joko Widodo (right) at Marina Bay Cruise Centre (Photo credit: MINDEF)
(L-R) President Joko Widodo, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (Photo credit: MINDEF)
The SAF Central Band and Akademi TNI Drum Band performing together at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre (Photo credit: MINDEF)
After the flypast, four RSAF F-16s landed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Indonesia to take part in a post-flypast celebration with the TNI-AU flypast pilots and team. Accompanying the four RSAF pilots were the remaining RSAF pilots of the flypast, RSAF organising committee members and senior officers who landed later in an RSAF Fokker 50 UTL. On board the lead RSAF F-16 was the RSAF’s Chief of Air Force, Major-General (MG) Mervyn Tan and Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Tan Hwee Roy, CO 140 Squadron. On the lead TNI-AU F-16 was TNI-AU KASAU Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Hadi Tjahjanto and Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Yoga Ambara, CO Skadron Udara 3.
RSAF F-16s performs a Diamond formation flypast over Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base before landing
TNI-AU F-16s in an Arrowhead formation flypast over Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base
Sharing his thoughts after the flypast, MG Mervyn Tan said, “It is the first time that both our air forces have come together to do a flypast of this complexity and scale. I think the flypast is really a testament of the skill as well as the professionalism of the pilots of our air forces. More importantly, it underscored the trust and mutual understanding between the personnel of both our air forces. I would like to say that, on behalf of the RSAF, it is really our honour to be able to celebrate this significant event in such a special way together with our Indonesian friends.”
ACM Hadi added, “Today is a special day for us. This achievement is a reflection of the strong relationship between us and the high level of trust that is shared between the personnel of the TNI-AU and the RSAF. I believe the military cooperation between the TNI-AU and the RSAF will be everlasting and we will always support each other.”
TNI-AU KASAU Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto (left) and RSAF Chief of Air Force Major-General Mervyn Tan (right)
LTC Tan said, “Today was an extraordinary experience. We have been working together (with LTC Yoga) as the flight leads for more than two weeks now, and it all culminated today when we flew a perfect formation on time over the show centres in Singapore and Indonesia. It was a fantastic experience for me and I hope that everybody down on the ground enjoyed the show, because we certainly enjoyed flying together to give everybody this flypast today.” Asked about challenges leading up to the flypast, he added, “Along the way, we encountered days where the weather was less than ideal and we had to bring the formation into showers and rain. It got a little bit hairy at times, but it’s nothing that we cannot manage. Today, the weather was very kind to us, so we managed to pull it off very well, and we are glad for that.”
In conclusion, LTC Yoga, “I’m very happy because this is the first time we are doing a formation with these two countries together, and it’s our first collaboration. I’m very proud of working together for more than two weeks (with the RSAF), and this is a new history for Singapore and Indonesia. We jointly worked together and accomplished the mission very well.”
Flight leads for TNI-AU, LTC Yoga Ambara (left) and RSAF, LTC Tan Hwee Roy (right)
RSAF F-16s in an Arrowhead formation over Marina South Pier
TNI-AU F-16s in an Arrowhead formation over Marina South Pier
Arrowhead formations over Marina South Pier
RSAF F-16s in an Arrowhead formation over Marina Barrage
TNI-AU F-16s in an Arrowhead formation over Marina Barrage
“50” formation over Marina South Pier
“50” formation over Marina South Pier
“50” formation over Marina South Pier
“50” formation over Marina South Pier
“50” formation over Marina Barrage
Crowd gathered at Marina Barrage as the “50” Formation flies overhead
RSAF F-15SGs perform a bomb burst in a salute to both Singapore and Indonesia
RSAF F-15SGs perform a bomb burst in a salute to both Singapore and Indonesia
RSAF F-15SGs bomb burst viewed from Marina Barrage
Traditional Indonesian cultural performers await the arrival of both air force chiefs
TNI-AU flight lead F-16D piloted by LTC Yoga Ambara, CO Skadron Udara 3 with TNI-AU KASAU ACM Hadi Tjahjanto
RSAF flight lead F-16D piloted by LTC Tan Hwee Roy, CO 140 Squadron with RSAF CAF MG Mervyn Tan
LTC Tan Hwee Roy (left) and MG Mervyn Tan (right)
LTC Yoga Ambara (left) and ACM Hadi Tjahjanto (right)
ACM Hadi Tjahjanto (left) and MG Mervyn Tan (right)
A traditional Indonesian welcome ceremony for both air force chiefs
MG Mervyn Tan greeting TNI-AU senior officers
ACM Hadi Tjahjanto (left) and MG Mervyn Tan (centre)
LTC Yoga Ambara (left) and LTC Tan Hwee Roy (right)
Commemorative group shot of the RISING50 committee and pilots (Photo credit: MINDEF)
RISING50 organising committee members from the RSAF and TNI-AU
RISING50 joint flypast pilots from the RSAF and TNI-AU
MG Mervyn Tan and ACM Hadi Tjahjanto at the souvenir presentation ceremony (Photo credit: MINDEF)
MG Mervyn Tan and ACM Hadi Tjahjanto toasting at the post-flight celebration ceremony (Photo credit: MINDEF)
For the coverage of this event, the MAphotoSG team was deployed at both Marina South Pier and Marina Barrage in Singapore, while our Editor accompanied the RSAF team to Indonesia to cover the post-flypast events. We would like to sincerely expressed our deepest appreciation to the RSAF AFIC team for their help and arrangements.