Off the wire
• Roundup: Kenya calls for sustained wildlife conservation efforts  • Top news items in major Nigerian media outlets  • Sri Lankan president promises immediate relief to landslide victims  • Benin to use ICT as catalyst for economic growth  • Social dialogue resumes in Togo after two-year break  • Kenya mulls partnership with private security firms to boost security  • DR Congo gov't to reduce 2016 state budget  • Afghan military kills 130 insurgents within day: gov't  • Food safety center to safeguard reputation of New Zealand exports  • Uganda's main opposition leader charged afresh with treason  
You are here: 　 Home

RSAF Open House 2016 to return with fun-filled activities

Xinhua, May 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Open House 2016 is returning to Paya Lebar Air Base on Saturday and Sunday with fun-filled activities and the public can seize this opportunity to know more about RSAF.

Themed "Defending Our Skies", visitors to RSAF Open House 2016 will be treated to action-packed aerial displays and capabilities demonstrations, interactive exhibition gallery which showcases the RSAF's transformation, aircraft rides as well as opportunities to interact with RSAF.

RSAF Open House 2016 has been under preparation for about nearly a year, RSAF hopes to showcase the airmen and women who work behind the scene to safeguard the skies of Singapore.

"We do hope the public can better understand RSAF. We do want to showcase to them what's our mission, what's our operation, capability," said Col Randy Ong, commander of Paya Lebar Air Base,

"More importantly, we also want to use this opportunity to showcase our men behind the scene, to show how hard they work to defend the skies and keep Singapore safe."

The 30-minute aerial display is one of the thrilling components of RSAF Open House 2016, which will run twice on each day of the event.

Visitors can observe RSAF's F-15SG and F-16C multi-role fighter aircraft, capabilities demonstration of the ground-based air defence systems that form part of the RSAF's multi-layer air defence, as well as air-land operations involving the AH-64D Apache attack helicopters and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

Other exciting demonstrations include fighter aircraft arming operations by the RSAF weapon load crew, security and enforcement operations conducted by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Working Dog Unit, as well as performances by the SAF Red Lions Parachute Team.

Besides the thrilling displays and demonstrations, there will also be more than 20 types of aircraft and weapon systems on static display.

Visitors can get up close and personal with the Air Force's latest aircraft and weapon systems, which include F-15SG and F-16D+ fighter aircraft, Chinook and Seahawk helicopters, Hermes 450 and Heron-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and the Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) ground-based air defence systems.

In addition, visitors can take a tour of the RSAF Pavilion, an exhibition gallery that features the RSAF's history and transformation, its full spectrum operations, as well as stories of its airmen and women in action.

According to Col Ong, RSAF has set up more simulators for this year's Open House, so visitors can try their hand at various aircraft and weapon system simulators. What's more, RSAF will also issue a "ticket system" to enhance the experience of visitors.

The two-day Open House will be open to the public for free, and it was in 2011 that RSAF held such event to engage with the public. Endit