PHOTO FEATURE | 47 IMAGES
The 6th Edition of the Singapore Airshow was held on 6 – 11 Feb 2018 at Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore. As Asia’s largest aerospace and defence event, thousands of trade visitors and 287 VIP delegations were hosted during the 4 day trade segment of the show, as well as nearly 80000 public visitors during the weekend.
Visitors to the Airshow were treated to the exhilarating aerobatics of the flying display performances including those by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)’s integrated aerial display team, comprising of an F-15SG with a special livery to commemorate RSAF’s 50th anniversary, along with two F-16Cs fighter jets. They performed 15 exciting manoeuvres, showcasing the high degree of precision and coordination required between the three aircraft. Their stunning routine included six new integrated manoeuvres that was performed for the first time ever in public, such as the 3-Ship Dedication Pass and the Golden Salute.
Other breath-taking flying displays included the Indonesia Air Force (TNI-AU) Jupiter Aerobatic Team’s KT-1B, the U.S. Air Force (USAF)’s F-16 and B-52 Stratofortress, the Sukhoi Su-30MKM from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF)’s JAS-39C Gripen, which made their first appearances in Singapore.
The Static Aircraft Display Area boasted 58 aircraft from various manufacturers and air forces. Apart from the many assets displayed by the RSAF, some of the aircraft making an appearance for the first time in an airshow in Asia include the Airbus A350-1000, a pair of Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs, E-7A Wedgetail from the Royal Australian Air Force and a specially painted Embraer E190-E2 “Profit Hunter” with tiger livery. Visitors were given opportunities to get up-close and personal with the wide range of commercial and military aircraft including a special livery RSAF F-15SG a predominantly blue colour scheme that is specially designed and painted to commemorate the RSAF’s 50th anniversary. This RSAF50 edition of the F-15SG is the crowd favorite with long queues formed for a picture sitting in it’s cockpit.
1. RSAF’s F-15G and F-16C performed exhilarating aerobatic manoeuvres at the Singapore Airshow 2018
2. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visits the Singapore Technologies Booth
3. Leanne Caret of Boeing hosts Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Chief of Air Force Mervyn Tan at the Boeing booth
4. Visitors preview Jewel Changi Airport’s bouncing net attraction and cutaway model of the Jewel
5. Embraer E190-E2 “Profit Hunter” with special tiger livery on static display
6. The moon sets under the curved winglet of the Airbus A350-1000
7. Airbus A350-1000 with Carbon Livery makes a stopover for a few days at the Singapore Airshow 2018 during it’s Asia tour
8. Airbus test pilot sits inside the cockpit of the Airbus A350-1000
9. A pair of USAF F-22 Raptors from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska on static display
10. USAF E-3B Sentry from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
11. USMC F-35B Lightning II of VMFA-121 landing at Changi International Airport for static display at the Singapore Airshow 2018
12. Special Singapore Airshow 2018 patch worn by the crews of USAF at static display area
13. One of the crowd favorites is the pair Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs specially flown in for the Singapore Airshow 2018
14. Hawaiian based USAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III
15. A visitor having a chat with a crew member in the cockpit of the C-17A Globemaster III
16. President Halimah Yacob unveils the special RSAF50 Livery F-15SG at a ceremony on the 7 Feb 2018
17. Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG with RSAF50 livery on display after unveiling ceremony
18. One of the crowd favorites for the cockpit picture, the RSAF50 F-15SG sees snaking queues of visitors keen on having picture with it.
19. Members of the Singapore Youth Flying Club checking out the cockpit of the RSAF50 F-15SG
20. Crew of USAF E-3B Sentry inspecting the wings
21. USAF B-52H Stratofortress from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana did a fly past on Satuarday afternoon
22. Indonesian Commander-In-Chief, Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto visits the Jupiters Aerobatic Team in the exhibition hall
23. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) Jupiters Team Solo cross over
24. Formation of six KT-1B of the TNI-AU Jupiters Team
25. TNI-AU Jupiters Team does a loop
26. Pilots of the Jupiter Team mixing with the visitors
27. Queue around the RSAF F-16D waiting for a seat in the cockpit
28. USAF F-16C pulls up with full afterburner
29. USAF F-16C releases flares as it goes vertical
30. High speed pass by USAF F-16C during one of its aerial display segments
31. Overview of the Static Aircraft Display Area. RSAF assets in the foreground and the Airbus A350-1000 in the background
32. Aircrew of the RSAF F-15SG welcomes visitors
33. USAF RQ-4B Globalhawk
34. Singapore Airshow 2018 patch design of the RTAF Gripen Display Team
35. RTAF JAS-39C Gripen entertains spectators with its amazing smoke trails and agility
36. RTAF JAS-39C Gripen during its aerial display performance
37. Visitors takes a picture with the RSAF V200 RBS-70
38. Performaing for the second time in Singapore, the RMAF SU-30MKM wows spectators with its physics defying manoeuvres and impressive flare displays
39. RMAF SU-30MKM deployed multiple flares as it completes it’s performance
40. Finale flare deployment by the RMAF SU-30MKM
41. Fans getting autographs from the pilots and crew of the RSAF Aerial Display Team
42. TNI-AU Jupiters Team and their fans during the pilots autograph session
43. RSAF Aerial Display Team enters the show centre in arrowhead formation
44. On the last day of the Singapore Airshow 2018, the crew of this RSAF50 livery F-15SG flew with the Singapore Flag in the cockpit
45. RSAF F-15SG performs the Horizontal 8 manoeuver
46. The F-15SG and F-16Cs of the RSAF Aerial Display Team pulls up into vertical and deployed a string of flares in their finale manoeuvre. The Golden Salute.
47. Golden Salute on the final day of the Singapore Airshow 2018